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“ ‘DO YOU THINK ME VERY UGLY?’ SAID THE BEAST” 




JUST STORIES 


BY 

ANNIE KLINGENSMITH 

Assistant Superintendent of Schools 
Gary, Indiana 


y 

ILLUSTRATED BY 

DOROTHY DULIN*^ 


A. FLANAGAN COMPANY 

CHICAGO 



COPYRIGHT 1916 BY A. FLANAGAN COMPANY 


JAN 29 1917 


©Cl.A4563.')l 


The Stories 


TJRINTED by the pupils of the Gary Schools and 
^ used in primary reading classes, these stories have 
reappeared on the playground, in sand, in dramatic 
form, and upon the lips of small successors of the 
ancient bards. Heard at shack doors on summer even- 
ings by one pausing in the twilight, they have seemed 
to justify the continued existence of ^^just stories,^’ 
for which the children clamor. 


PAGES 

The Pancake 5 

Blackie’s Picnic 11 

The Seven Goslings 16 

The Pathek of the Family ........ 20 

The White Cat 23 

Singing 29 

Little Wee Duck 30 

Titty Mouse and Tatty Mouse 35 

Brothek Rabbit and Brother Goat 39 

A Day 43 

The Long Leather Bag 44 

Peter Rabbit ^3 

Mary’s Lamb 


4 


THE STOEIES 


PAGES 

Beauty and the Beast 59 

Half-Chick 66 

Hop-0 ^-My-Thumb 70 

A Swallowtail Buttekfly 75 

Thistle Seed 80 

Billy Beg and His Bull . . . 81 

A Thought 93 

Benjy in Beastland 94 

The Naughty Little Mouse 100 

The Wokkman King 103 

Thkee Little Kittens Ill 

The Polite Family 114 

Pandoka 115 

An Indian Legend 119 

The Goose That Laid the Golden Egg .... 120 

The Magpie ^s Nest . 122 

Daisies 123 

The Little Bed Hen 124 

The Wind Flowek 128 


JUST STORIES 

The Pancake 

O NCE upon a time a woman had seven hungry 
children. She was frying a pancake for them. 
It w^as a sweet-milk pancake. There it lay in the 
pan, bubbling and frizzling. The children stood staring 
at it, and the father sat and looked on. 

^^Oh, mother, dear, give me a piece of pancake, I 
am so hungry,’^ said one child. 

‘‘Oh, dear, darling mother,’’ said the second. 

“Oh, dear, darling, good mother,” said the third. 
“Oh, dear, darling, good, nice mother,” said the 
fourth. 

“Oh, dear, darling, good, nice, sweet mother,” said 
the fifth. 

“Oh, dear, darling, good, nice, sweet, pretty mother,” 
said the sixth. 

“Oh, dear, darling, good, nice, sweet, pretty little 
mother,” said the seventh. 

So they coaxed for the pancake all around. Each 
one spoke more sweetly than the other. They were all 
so hungry and so good. 


5 


7TJ 


6 


JUST STOEIES 



“IT JUMPED OUT OF THE PAN” 


yes, children, said the mother. ^^Wait till 
I turn it. Then you shall all have some. See what a 
beautiful sweet-milk pancake it is. Look how fat and 
happy it lies in the pan.” 

The pancake heard what the mother said and it was 
afraid. It tried to jump out of the pan, but it was not 
strong: enough. It only fell back the other side up. 
It fried a little while on that side, and then it was 
stronger. So it jumped out of the pan, rolled out at 
the door and away down the hill. 

^^Hello, pancake, stop!” cried the mother. Away 
she went after it. She had the frying pan in one hand 
and the sj)oon in the other. Away ran the children 
after her and away went the father last of all. 


THE PANCAKE 


7 


^^Stop, stop, pancake!’^ they all shouted. They tried 
to catch up with it, but they could not. The pancake 
rolled on and on. Soon they could not see it. It 
was faster than any of them. 

So when it had rolled a while it met a man. 

^^Good morning, pancake,’^ said the man. 

‘^Good morning, Manny Panny,’’ said the pancake. 

Beautiful pancake,’^ said the man, don’t roll so 
fast. Stop and let me eat you.” 

^^No, no, Manny Panny,” said the pancake. have 
run away from the mother, and the father, and the 
seven crying children, and I can run away from you 
too.” So on it rolled, till it met a hen. 

^^Good morning, pancake,” said the hen. 

^^Good morning, Henny Penny,” said the pancake. 

Beautiful pancake, don’t roll so fast. Stop and let 
me eat you,” said the hen. 

^^No, no, Henny Penny,” said the pancake. have 
run away from the mother, and the father, and the 
seven crying children, and Manny Panny, and I can 
run away from you, too.” So it rolled away down the 
road. Just then it met Cocky Locky. 

^^Good morning, pancake,” said Cocky Locky. 

^^Good morning Cocky Locky,” said the pancake. 

^'Beautiful pancake,” said Cocky Locky, ''don’t roll 
so fast. Stop and let me eat you.” 

"No, no. Cocky Locky,” said the pancake. "I have 


8 


JUST STORIES 


run a^way from the mother, and the father, and the 
seven crying children, and Manny Fanny, and Henny 
Penny, and I can run away from you, 
too/^ 

So off it went, rolling as fast as it 
could. When it had rolled a long way 
it met a duck. 

^^Good morning, pancake, said 
the duck. 

^^Good morning. Ducky 
Lucky,’’ said the pancake. 

Beautiful pancake, don’t 
roll so fast. Stop and let 
me eat you.” 
no. Ducky Lucky,” said the pancake, have 
run away from the mother, and the father, 
and the seven crying children, and Manny 
Pamiy, and Henny Penny, and Cocky Locky 
and I can run away from you, too.” 

Then it rolled away faster than ever, 
till it met a goose. 

^^Good morning, pancake,” said the 
goose. 

^^Good morning. Goosey Loosey,” 
said the pancake. 

Beautiful pancake,” said the goose, don’t 
roll so fast. Stop and let me eat you.” 




THE PANCAKE 


9 


^^No, no, Goosey Loosey,’’ said the pancake. have 
run away from the mother, and the father, and the 
seven crying children, and Manny Panny, and Henny 
Penny, and Cocky Locky, and Ducky Lucky, and I 
can run away from you, too.’’ 

So off it rolled. Wlien it had rolled a long, long 
time, it met a gander. 

‘^Good morning, pancake,” said the gander. 

^^Good morning, Gander Lander,” said the pancake. 

Beautiful pancake,” said the gander, don’t roll 
so fast. Stop and let me eat you.” 

^^No, no. Gander Lander,” said the pancake. 
have run away from the mother, and the father, and 
the seven crying children, 
and Manny Panny, and 
Henny Penny, and Cocky 
Locky, and Ducky Lucky, 
and Goosey Loosey, and I 
can run away from 
you, too.” 

So it rolled off faster 
than ever. When it had 
rolled a long time, it met *a pig. 

‘^Good morning, pancake,” said the pig. 

^^Good morning. Piggy Wiggy,” said the pancake. 
It said not one word more, but began to roll and roll 
and roll, like a crazy pancake. 



10 


JUST STORIES 


^'Now, now/^ said the pig. be in such a 

hurry. We can go together. It isn’t safe in the 
woods.” 

The pancake was frightened. So it waited for the 
pig, and they went along together. 

When they had gone a long way, they came to a 
brook. Piggy could swim across, but the poor little 
pancake could not. 

‘‘Sit on my snout,” said the pig, “and I will take 
you over.” 

So the pancake sat on his snout. And, whoof, whoof, 
into his throat it went. 

That was the end of the pancake, and it is the end 
of this story. 



Blackie’s Picnic 


TT was one night while his mother was putting him 

to bed that Blackie begged to go into the woods and 
have a picnic all by himself. 

‘‘Why, Blackie,’’ said Mrs. Blackrat, “don’t! How 
queer you are! Who ever heard of having a picnic all 
by yourself?” 

“Please, mother, do,” said Blackie, patting her on 
the cheek, “just this once! I’ll be so good!” 

So Mrs. Blackrat said: “Well, go right to sleejj 
and hush talking, and I will see about it in the 
morning.” 

“What does ‘see about it’ mean, mother? — does it 
mean ‘yes’?” said Blackie. 

“I guess so, if it doesn’t rain,” said Mrs. Blackrat! 
“Now, not another word; go right to sleep.” 

So Blackie shut his eyes, and the next time he 
opened them it was daylight, and it wasn’t raining. 
Sure enough, Mrs. Blackrat gave Blackie a lunch and 
started him off to the picnic. As he skipped away, 
she kept squealing out to him: “Now, be careful! 
Don’t tear your coat! Don’t stay out late! Don’t — ” 

But Blackie did not hear the last “don’t,” because 
he was out of sight, and oh,, so happy, because he was 


11 


12 


JUST STOEIES 


going to have a picnic! wish Snow white and Ring- 
tail and Brownie could have a picnic, too,^’ said 
Blackie. 

He had a very good time, and played all the morning 
with leaves and flowers and grass. When dinner time 
came he spread his lunch on a rock by the spring, and 
ate his picnic dinner. There were roasted peas, and a 
baked potato root, and a slice of dried apple. 

^^Such a dear little mother,’’ said Blackie, ^Ho give 
me this good lunch!” After dinner he played again, 
and then ran down a little path to hunt wild straw- 
berries to carry home for Mr. and Mrs. Blackrat’s 
supper. 

^^Poor mother and father,” said Blackie, ‘Hhey 
couldn’t come to my picnic; I will take them something 
good.” Wliile he was hunting berries he came to a 
very queer house with a tiny, tiny little crack in it, 
just large enough for Blackie to squeeze through. 

^^Oh, ho!” said Blackie, ^^just see! A house full of 
corn! I believe I won’t hunt any more strawberries; I 
will stay here and eat some of this corn, and then carry 
some home. Won’t mother be glad!” When he tasted 
the corn, it was so very good he ate and ate until he 
couldn’t eat any more! Then he just curled up in a 
nest of corn and went sound asleep. And, just think, 
when Blackie waked up, he had slept such a long time 
the moon was shining, and it was night time! 


BLACKIE^S PICNIC 


13 


^^Oh, what will mother do with said Blackie. 

^^She told me not to stay out late. I must hurry 
home as fast as I can, because she might think I 
am lost!’’ 

So he hurried to the tiny little crack. He squeezed 
and squeezed, but, he couldn’t get through at all. 
^^What makes me so very fat?” said Blackie. ^^This 
is the same door I came through this afternoon. Why 
can’t I get out now?” 

If you had been there, could you have told Blackie 
why? Well, Mrs. Blackrat waited and waited for 
Blackie, and when he didn’t come home to supper she 
did not know what to think. Blackie shall never go 
to another picnic the longest day he lives,” said Mrs. 
Blackrat. told him not to stay out late, and here 
the moon is shining and he has not come home! We 
must look for him, Mr. Blackrat. You go one way and 
I will go the other.” 

So they looked and looked for Blackie, and then 
Mrs. Blackrat began to cry, because she said she knew 
Blackie had tumbled into the water and been drowned, 
and she never would see him any more. 

But Mr. Blackrat said: ^^Oh, no, my dear. I 
wouldn’t cry and say such things as that. Blackie is 
just lost; he is a bright little fellow and will find his 
way home in the morning. You run home and go to 
bed and I will look for Blackie.” 


14 


JUST STOEIES 


But Mrs. Blackrat said she couldnT go to sleep with 
Blackie lost in the woods in the dark night, so she 
trotted on by the side of Mr. Blackrat, looking every- 
where for Blackie. 

By and by they came to the spring, and saw the very 
rock where Blackie had eaten his dinner, for there 
were the scraps of roasted peas and potato root and 
dried apple. 

Next they found the little path twisting through the 
woods, and some tiny footprints in the sand, and Mr. 
Blackrat said, Whose tracks are these, I wonder?^’ 

‘‘Why they are Bladders tracks!’’ said Mrs. Black- 
rat, hopping up and down with joy, “I’d know 
Blackie ’s tracks anywhere — they are the most beautiful 
tracks in the world! Hurry, hurry, Mr. Blackrat; you 
are so slow!” 

And so she ran on ahead of Mr. Blackrat, just as 
fast as she could, following the little tracks in the 
sand. Sure enough, they led right up to the little 
crack in the corn-house. There stood Blackie with only 
his nose peeping through, so very fat he could not get 
any farther. 

Mrs. Blackrat was so happy she did not know what 
to do, so she sat on a stone and fanned herself. Mr. 
Blackrat couldn’t do a thing but laugh when he saw 
Blackie was so fat he couldn’t get through the crack. 

“You little rascal,” he said, “now aren’t you a pretty 


BLACKIE’S PICNIC 15 

sight! Why don’t you come out of that door and meet 
your mother?” 

c-a-n-’t!” said Blackie; ‘^I don’t know why. I 
came in all right, but when I started home — ” 

^^You were so very fat you couldn’t squeeze 
through,” said his father. “I wonder how much of that 
corn you have eaten.” 

^AYhy, Blackie,” said his mother, “I am ashamed of 
you! To think that a son of mine could be so greedy! 
Blackie! Blackie! Don’t you touch another grain of 
that corn, sir — not another grain, sir, until you have 
fallen off and lost enough of that fat to squeeze through 
that crack, you wretched child! Throw me out a few 
grains of that corn, and let me see how it tastes!” 

Well, maybe you think it would be funny to be so 
very fat you could not squeeze through a crack, but 
it wasn’t very funny to Blackie, I can tell you! It took 
a long time for him to fall off, and he got so very 
hungry. 

But his mother would not let him taste a thing — 
not even a grain of corn — and he did fall off at last, and 
got thin enough to squeeze through the little crack; 
then he was the happiest little fellow in the world, and 
you never caught him going through any more little 
cracks, unless he was sure he could get out again. 

From Merry Animal Tales/ ^ Madge Bingham 
Published by Little Brown S Company. 


O NCE there was a goose that had seven children. 

One day she had to go to get some food for them. 
She called them np and said, ‘‘Be sure to keep the 
door locked while I am gone. If the wolf gets in he 
will eat you bones, skin, and all. You will know him 
by his hoarse voice and black paw^s.’’ 

The goslings said, “We will be very careful. Do 
not be afraid, mother.’^ 

So the old goose went away with a light heart. 

16 



THE SEVEN GOSLINGS 


17 


Soon some one knocked at the door. ^‘Who is it?’’ 
cried the goslings. 

^^Your mother, dears. I have brought something 
nice for each one of you. Open the door quickly.” 

But the goslings knew it was the wolf by the hoarse 
voice. 

^^We will not open the door,” they cried. ‘^Our 
mother has a sweet voice. Yours is hoarse. You 
must be the wolf.” 

Off went the wolf and bought a big piece of butter 
and ate it to make his voice soft. 

Then he went back and knocked. ^^Open the door, 
dears. Your mother is here. She has brought each 
of you something nice.” 

But the wolf showed his black paw at the key hole. 

So the goslings said, ^‘You are the wolf. Our mother 
has not black paws.” 

Then the wolf ran to the baker. ^‘Rub dough on my 
paws and be quick about it,” he said. 

The baker was afraid, so he did. 

Then the wolf ran to the miller. ‘^Put flour on my 
paws and be quick about it,” he said. 

The miller was afraid, so he did. 

Away the wolf ran and put his paws up to the key 
hole. 

‘^Here I am, my dear children. Open the door for 
mother. I have something nice for each of you.” 


18 


JUST STORIES 


The goslings saw the white paws and heard the sweet 
voice. So they opened the door. 

The first gosling ran under the table. The second 
got into bed. The third hid in the oven. The fourth 
jumped into the flour barrel. The fifth flew into the 
cupboard. The sixth crept under the sink. The 
seventh hid in the clock. 

The wolf found all but the one in the clock and 
soon put them into his bag. Then he went out and 
lay down to sleep. 

Soon the mother goose came home. Wliat a sight 
she saw. The door was wide open. The tables and 
chairs were upside down. Dishes were broken. The 
pillows were on the floor. 

The poor mother ran up and down. She called her 
children by name. I^o one answered. She sat down 
and sobbed and cried. 

The gosling in the clock had heard her calling, but 
he was afraid it was the wolf again. 

When she began to cry, he peeped out with one eye. 
Then he called out, ^‘Here I am mother, in the clock. 

So she helped him out and heard what the wolf 
had done. Then they went out into the wood. There 
lay the wolf sound asleep with his bag beside him. 

The mother sent the gosling for scissors and needle 
and thread. In a minute he was back. The mother 
cut one snip. Out came a gosling’s head. 


THE SEVEN GOSLINGS 


19 


Then she made another snip, and another, and 
another till the six goslings all jumped out. 

^^Now run children, and bring some good hard 
stones.’^ 

The goslings always obeyed at once. So off they 
went and brought the stones. 

The mother put them into the bag. Then she sewed 
up the hole. 

By and by the wolf woke up and took the bag over 
his shoulder. He felt very thirsty, so he went to the 
brook to drink. 

When he put down his head, the stones upset him 
and he fell into the water and sank to the bottom. 

All the goslings cried, ^^The wolf is dead, the wolf 
is dead, the wolf is dead.’^ Then they held hands and 
danced round and round their mother till they could 
dance no longer. 



The Father of the Family 

O NCE upon a time a man was 
traveling. In the evening he 
came to a large farm house. He 
thought he would ask to stay all 
night. 

In the yard there was an old 
man with gray hair. He was cut- 
ting wood. 

^^Good evening, father,’^ said 
the traveler. ^^May I stay all 
night at your house 

‘H am not the father,’’ said the 
old man. ‘‘Go into the kitchen 
and ask my father.” 

So the traveler went into the 
kitchen. There he saw a man that was still older. He 
was making a fire. 

“Good evening, father,” said the traveler. “May I 
stay here all nighC?” 

“I am not the father,” said the old man. “Go into 
the next room and ask my father. He is sitting at 
the table reading.” 

So the traveler went into the room and there sat 
20 



THE FATHER OF THE FAMILY 


21 


a very old man. He was reading 
a big book. He was so old that 
he shook with the cold. 

‘^Good evening, father, may I 
stay here all nights’ 

am not the father,’’ said the 
very old man. ‘^You must go to 
my father. There he sits on 
the bench.” 

So the traveler went over to the 
bench. There sat a still older man. 

He was trying to fill his pipe. But 
his hands were too stiff. 

^/Good evening, father,” said 
the traveler. ^^May I stay 
here all night?” 

am not the father,” said the 
man on the bench. ^^Go and ask my 
•father. He is lying on the bed.” 

So the traveler went over to the 
bed. There lay an old, old, 
old man with his eyes shut. 
^ ^ Good evening, father, ’ ’ 
said the traveler. ^^May I stay in 
your house all night?” 

am not the father,” said the old 
man in the bed. ^^Ask my father. 




22 


JUST STORIES 


He lies in the cradle/^ 

So the traveler went and 
looked into the cradle. There 
lay a man as old as the hills. 
He was as small as a baby. He 
could hardly speak. 

At last this old man said, 
am not the father. You must 
ask my father. He is in a horn 
hanging on the wall.’^ 

So the traveler looked about 
till he saw the horn. He looked 
There he saw a tiny, little, white, 
no bigger than your thumb. 
‘Good evening, father, may I stay here 
all night said the traveler. 

Then a little chirping came out of the horn. It 
sounded like a little bird. 

The traveler held his breath to listen. The little 
man was saying, “Yes, my child. 

A table covered with good food came in. The man 
ate and drank. Then a soft bed came in and he went 
to bed. 

He was very glad to find the right father of the 
house. 



into it. 
old man. 


The White Cat 


rpHERE was once a king who had three sons. They 
were all handsome and wise and brave. 

One day the king said: ^^My sons, I am growing old. 
I wish to make one of you king in my place. But I 
must have something to amuse me when I am no longer 
king. I will make the one who brings me the tiniest 
dog king. Travel in all countries for a year. Then 
come home and we will see who finds the smallest dog.’’ 

The three princes set off on different roads. 

The youngest one went from town to town buying 
tiny dogs. In each town he saw a smaller one. So he 
always gave away the one he had and bought the one 
that was still smaller. 

One night he was lost in a forest. It rained and 
was very dark. After a long time he saw a light and 
went toward it. In a short time he came to the most 
beautiful palace he had ever seen. The door was of 
gold covered with sapphires. The walls were of china 
covered with the pictures of all the fairies in the world. 

A deer’s foot was hung to the door by a chain of 
diamonds. He pulled the foot and heard a bell that 
sounded like the most beautiful music. In a minute 
the door opened. No one was to be seen, but there 

23 


24 


JUST STORIES 


were twelve hands in the air. Each hand held a lamp! 

The prince was frightened. He stood still and looked 
at the hands. He was afraid to move a step. Then he 
heard sweet voices singing: Welcome, Prince, no 
danger fear.’^ 

So he followed the lamps till he came to a door of 
coral. It opened into a room of pearl. Still the hands 
with lamps went on. Still the prince followed. At last 
they stopped in a brightly lighted room. There was a 
fire with an easy chair before it. 

The hands put down the lamps. Then they took oft 
the princess wet clothes and dressed him in fine linen 
and a gold-embroidered suit. 

The hands next combed his hair, and brought him 
a basin with perfumed water to wash his hands. 

Wlien he was all ready the hands led him into a 
banquet room. All the dishes were of gold. 

There were just two plates. The prince seated him- 
self at one of the places. 

Just then a little figure entered the room and came 
toward him. It had on a long veil. On each side 
walked a cat with a sword by its side. A long train 
of cats followed bringing cages and traps full of 
mice. 

The little figure walked up to the prince. Then it 
threw back its veil and the prince saw that it was a 
beautiful white cat. 


THE WHITE CAT 


25 


Welcome, Prince,’’ said the beautiful white cat. 

‘‘Madam,” said the prince, “I thank you for your 
kindness.” 

“Do not thank me,” said the white cat, “I am glad 
to have you visit my palace. Let us go on with 
dinner.” 

The hands brought the prince a pigeon pie. They 
gave the white cat a dish of fried mice. After this 
many other kinds of food were brought in. 

Late at night the hands took the prince to a bed- 
room. The room was so beautiful that he could hardly 
make up his mind to go to bed. 

In the morning he heard a noise outside. The hands 
brought him a hunting suit, and put it on him. 

He looked out and saw five hundred cats. They 
were getting ready for a hunt. 

Soon the white cat sent for the prince, and wished 
him to go along. She gave him a wooden horse that 
could run very fast. She herself rode a monkey. 

The horns sounded. Away went five hundred cats. 
They hunted all day. At night there was another 
feast. The next day there was a hunt. And so it 
went day after day. 

At last the prince thought of his father and the little 
dog. “WTiat shall I do?” said he to the white cat, “I 
am far from home and must be there in three days.” 

The white cat said: “Never mind. The wooden horse 


26 


JUST STORIES 


will take you lioiiic in three days. Here is an acorn, 
hold it to your ear.’’ The prince did as she said and 
heard a little dog barking in the acorn. 

He thanked the white cat a thousand times and set 
off on the wooden horse. 

On the last day of the year the three princes went 
to show their dogs. The two elder princes brought 
theirs on little silk cushions. Everj^ one thought the 
youngest prince had no dog. 

The king could not tell which of the two dogs was 
smaller. The two brothers began to quarrel. 

The youngest prince took out the acorn and opened 
it. Out jumped the tiniest dog ever seen. He could 
jump through a finger ring without touching. 

The king said: There is one more thing that I 

want. Travel another year and bring me a piece of 
cloth fine enough to be drawn through the eye of a 
small needle. Then I will decide which one of you is 
to be king. 

The three princes set off as before. The youngest 
went straight to the white cat’s palace. ^‘Give yourself 
no trouble,” said the white cat, ^^sonie of my cats can 
make you such cloth.” 

That night there were fireworks because the prince 
had come back. Every day there was something new. 
The prince forgot all about going home, but at the 
right time the white cat reminded him. 


THE WHITE CAT 


27 


Wlieii lie went to the door lie saw a beautiful chariot. 
It was covered with gold and pearls and diamonds. It 
had twelve snow-white horses. Behind it rode a thou- 
sand soldiers on white horses. ^^Take this walnut/^ 
said the white cat, ^^be careful of it; the cloth is in it.’^ 

At the end of the year the three princes came before 
their father. The two elder princes showed very fine 
pieces of cloth. But they were not quite fine enough. 

Then the youngest prince took out his walnut. He 
cracked it. Inside was a hickory nut. He cracked that. 
Inside was a cherry stone. Everybody began to laugh. 
The prince cracked the cherry stone. Inside of it was 
a grain of wheat. Inside the grain of wheat was a grass 
seed. Inside the grass seed was the cloth. It was four 
hundred yards long and so fine that it went through the 
needle like thread. 

Now the king said, ^^A king must have a queen. 
Travel for another year. Whoever brings back the 
most beautiful lady shall be king.’^ 

Again the youngest prince went to the white cat’s 
palace. There he stayed for a year. At last only one 
day was left. 

To-morrow you must be at home,” said the white 
cat. can help you to get the most beautiful princess 
in the world.” 

^^How?” said the prince. 

^^Cut off my head and tail,” said the white cat. 


28 


JUST STORIES 


‘ ‘ Never said the prince, am too fond of you.’’ 

Please do as I tell you,” said the white cat. ^‘Have 
I ever told you anything that was not for your goodU’ 

So the prince cut off her head and tail with his sword. 

In a moment the white cat turned into the most 
beautiful princess in the world. All the cats in the 
palace turned into ladies and gentlemen. 

^^We have all been enchanted,” said the princess, 
^^But now let us hurry. We must be at your home 
to-morrow. ’ ’ 

The next day the three princes brought their ladies 
before the king. 

Everyone could see that the youngest prince had 
the most beautiful lady. So the king said he should be 
king. 

The princess said: ^Wou are not too old to be king. 
Keep your kingdom for yourself. I have six kingdoms 
of my own. I will give one to each of your two elder 
sons. The other four I will give to the youngest 
prince. ’ ’ 

This made everybody very glad. 



Little Wee Duck 



full of bright pieces of gold. 


O NCE upon a time a Little Wee 
Duck found a purse. It was 


quack, quack. Come and 
get your money back. 
Quack, quack, quack. 


about calling, Quack 


Little Wee Duck went 


Nobody came, so Little Wee Duck thought he would 
have the money for himself. 

Just then the king came riding by. When he saw 
Little Wee Duck with the money, he jumped from 
his horse. 

^^Hand that money over,^’ shouted the king. ^^What 
does a duck need with money? Hand it over I say.’’ 

Little Wee Duck was frightened. So he gave the 
money to the king without saying one word. The 
king jumped on his horse again and away he went. 

Little Wee Duck went home and told his master 
about the money. 

^Wou bad Little Wee Duck,” said his master. 
and get that money back. Don’t come home till you 
have it.” 


30 


LITTLE WEE DUCK 


31 


Little Wee Duck set off down the road singing, 

Quack, quack, quack. Give me my money back. 
Quack, quack, quack. 

Very soon lie met Friend Pox. ^‘Wliere are you 
going this fine day?’^ said Friend Fox. 

^^Oh, the king took my money and I am going to 
get it back. Quack, quack, quack. 

^^May I go with you?’’ said Friend Fox. ^^The more 
the merrier,” said Little Wee Duck. ‘^Make yourself 
small, and get into my pocket and I will carry you.” 

Friend Fox did as he was told. Little Wee Duck 
set off again singing, Quack, quack, quack. Give me 
my money back. Quack, quack, quack.” 

Next he met Lady Running River. There was no 
one Little Wee Duck liked so well. He stopped to 
speak to her. 

^^Wliere are you going this fine day?” said Lady 
Running River. 

^^Oh, the king took my money and I am going to 
get it back. Quack, quack, quack.” 

^^May I go with you?” said Lady Running River. 
^^The more the merrier,” said little Wee Duck. ‘^Make 
yourself small, get into my pocket and I will carry 
you.” 

Lady Running River did as she was told. Little 
Wee Duck set off again singing, Quack, quack, quack. 
Give me my money back. Quack, quack, quack.” 


32 


JUST STOEIES 


Next lie met Mr. Bee Hive. ''Where are you going 
this fine dayU’ said Mr. Bee Hive. 

"Oh, the king took my money and I am going to 
get it back. Quack, quack, quack. 

"May I go with youV^ said Mr. Bee Hive. "The 
more the merrier,’^ said Little Wee Buck. "Make 
yourself small, get into my pocket, and I will carry 
you. ’ ’ 

Mr. Bee Hive did as he was told. Little Wee Buck 
set off again, singing, "Quack, quack, quack. Give 
me my money back.” 

And the very next thing he came to was the king’s 
palace. 

The gate stood wide open. Two long rows of soldiers 
guarded the way from the gate to the palace door. 

Little Wee Buck marched up between them singing, 
"Quack, quack, quack. Give me my money back. 
Quack, quack, quack.” 

At the door stood a porter with silk stockings and 
gold buttons. 

"I wish to speak to the king,” said Little Wee Buck. 

The porter went at once to the king. 

"Wants to see me?” said the king. "Oh, no. That 
is a mistake. What he wants to see is the poultry 
yard. That will suit him much better.” 

Away went the porter. "Step this way,” said he 
to Little Wee Buck. Little Wee Buck followed the 


LITTLE WEE DUCK 


33 


porter and soon found himself in the poultry yard. 

All the chickens and ducks and turkeys and guinea 
hens flew at Little Wee Duck and pecked him. But 
Friend Fox jumped out and swallowed them all whole. 

Then Little Wee Duck sang, ''Quack, quack, quack. 
Give me my money back. Quack, quack, quack.’’ 

The king heard him and shouted, "Throw that crea- 
ture into the fire and burn him!” 

The servant ran out and caught Little W^ee Duck. 
Just as 

into the fire, out came Lady Running 
River. She put out the fire and 
spoiled all the carpets. 

Little Wee Duck Swam around 
singing, "Quack, quack, quack, 
give me my money back.” 

"Bring him to me,” shouted 
the king, "and I will wring his 
neck. Then he will be quiet.” 

The soldiers 
waded about 
until they 
caught Little 
Wee Duck. 

Then they 

carried him to the king. 

Just as the king tried to take hold of him, out 



34 


JUST STOKIES 


buzzed Mr. Bee Hive. The king dropped Little Wee 
Duck^s money and jumped out of the window. All 
the soldiers ran away. 

Little Wee Duck took his money and went home 
singing, Quack, quack, quack. I^ow I have my 
money back. Quack, quack, quack. 

His master took him into the house and treated 
him as a son. Little Wee Duck had fine clothes and 
nice things to eat. He was always introduced to guests 
and his master was very proud of him. 

Old French Fairy Tale 



Titty Mouse 
isf and 

Tatty Mouse 


ITTY MOUSE and Tatty Mouse 
both lived in one house. 



Titty Mouse went out to find some food and Tatty 
Mouse went out to find some food. So they both went 
out to find some food. 

Titty Mouse found an ear of corn and Tatty Mouse 
found an ear of corn. So they both found an ear 
of corn. 

Titty Mouse made a pudding and Tatty Mouse made 
a pudding. So they both made a pudding. 

Tatty Mouse put her pudding into the pot to boil. 
Titty Mouse went to put her pudding into the pot 
to boil, but she fell in and was boiled with it. 

Then Tatty Mouse sat down and cried. A stool said, 

Tatty Mouse, why do you cry?’^ 

Titty is dead,’^ said Tatty, ^^that is why I cry.’^ 

^^Then I shall hop,’’ said the stool. So the stool 
hopped. 

The broom said, /hStool, why do you hop?” Titty 

35 


36 


,JUST STORIES 


is dead,” said the stool, ‘‘Tatty cries, and so I hop.” 

‘ ‘ Then I shall sweep, ’ \ said the broom. So the broom 
swept. 

Then the door said, “Broom, why do you sweep?” 

“Titty is dead. Tatty cries, the stool hops,” said 
the broom, “and so I sweep.” 

Then the door said, “I shall bang.” So the door 
banged. 

Then the window^ said, “Door, why do you bang?” 

“Titty is dead, Tatty cries, the stool hops, the broom 
sweeps,” said the door, “so I bang.” 

The window said, “Then I shall creak.” So the 
window creaked. 

There was an old bench outside the house. He heard 
the window creak, and said, “Window, why do you 
creak?” 

“ Titty is dead. Tatty cries, the stool hops, the broom 
sweeps, the door bangs,” said the window, “so I 
creak.” 

“Then I shall run around the house,” said the old 
bench. So the old bench ran around and around the 
house. 

A large tree grew near the house. The tree said 
to the old bench, “Wliy do you run around the house?” 

“Titty is dead. Tatty cries, the stool hops, the broom 
sweeps, the door bangs, and the window creaks,” said 
the old bench, “so I run around and around the house.” 


TITTY MOUSE AND TATTY MOUSE 


37 


‘‘Then I shall shed my leaves/^ said the tree. So 
the tree shed his leaves. 

A little bird was in the tree. It saw all the leaves 
falling. 

“Tree, why do you shed your leaves said the little 
bird. 

“Titty is dead, Tatty cries, the stool hops, 
the broom sweeps, the door bangs, the window 
creaks, the bench runs around the house,’’” 
said the big tree, “so I shed my leaves.” 

“Then I shall shed all my feathers,” said 
the bird. So the bird shed all his feathers. 

A little girl walked mider the tree. She 
had a pitcher of milk for supper. She saw 
the little bird shed all his pretty feathers. 

So she said, “Little bird, why do you 
shed all your pretty feathers?” 

“Titty is dead. Tatty cries, the 
stool hops, the broom sweeps, the 
door bangs, the window creaks, the 
old bench runs around the 
house, the big tree sheds its 
leaves,” said the little bird, 

“so I shed my feathers.” 

“Then I shall spill the 
milk,” said the little girl. So 
the little girl spilled the milk. 



38 


JUST STORIES 


There 



was an old man on a ladder. He saw the little 
girl drop her pitcher. 

Little girl, why do you spill your 
inilkU’ said the man. 

''Titty is dead/' said the little girl, 

, "Tatty cries, the stool hops, the 

broom sweeps, the door bangs, the 
window creaks, the old bench runs 
around the house, the big tree sheds 
its leaves, and the little bird sheds 
its feathers." 

"Then I shall fall off the ladder 
and break my neck," said the old 
man. And the old men fell off the 
ladder and broke his neck. 

Then the big tree fell down and 
upset the old bench and the house. 
The house fell and knocked the win- 
dow out. The window knocked the 
door down. The door upset the 
broom. The broom upset the stool 
and poor little Tatty Mouse and the 
bird were killed. 


Brother Rabbit and Brother Goat 

A LONG time ago Brother Rabbit and Brother Goat 
lived near together. 

Brother Goat\s horns were strong and sharp; so he 
was not afraid of anything. 

Poor Brother Rabbit was afraid of nearly everything. 
He could not bite; he had no horns; he could only run 
away when he was afraid. 

Brother Goat always turned up his nose at poor 
Brother Rabbit. He hardly ever spoke to him when he 
met him. 

If he ever said anything, it was always something to 
scare Brother Babbit out of his wits. 

Brother Goat would say, Brother Rabbit, here 
comes Brother Pox,^^ and then Brother Rabbit would 
run himself out of breath to get away. 

Sometimes Brother Goat would say, ^^Here is Mr. 
Wolf.’^ Then Brother Rabbit would almost faint. 

Now Brother Rabbit was small, but he knew a thing 
or two. He found out that Brother Goat liked nice 
things to eat. So he made a feast and asked Brother 
Goat to come. He thought Brother Goat would be 
ashamed to tease him after that. 

Brother Goat had never seen such a feast. He ate 


39 


40 


JUST STORIES 


and ate. At last lie asked for a drink of water. Poor 
Brother Rabbit had no water and he was afraid to 
go to the spring to get it. 

Brother Goat said, ^^Let us go and dig a well by the 
big poplar tree.” Mr. Wolf lived near there and j 
Brother Goat was teasing Brother Rabbit again. j 

Brother Rabbit said, do not need a well. I drink j 
the dew on the leaves early in the morning.” ^ 

Brother Goat said, will dig the well myself. Then ■ 
all the water will be mine.” 

So Brother Goat went out and began to dig with his i 
sharp horns and sharp hoofs. He made the ground fly j 
all around. Soon he found water and took a drink. | 

The next day Mr. Wolf went away on a visit and 
Brother Rabbit thought he would go down and get j 
some water. When Brother Goat came he saw Brother j 
RabbiUs tracks. This made him angry, and he said 
to himself, will catch the rascal.” 

Brother Goat was a carpenter; so he could make all i 
sorts of things of wood. He ran for his tools and 
made a wooden baby. He put tar all over it and it 
looked like a darky baby. 

Brother Goat set the tar baby at the edge of the well 
and hid in the bushes. 

By and by Brother Rabbit came to get a pail of 
water. He was creeping along very softly, hiding 
under grass and behind stones. 


BROTHER RABBIT AND BROTHER GOAT 41 


When he saw the tar baby, he sat as still as a stone. 
He looked just like the dry leaves and grass around 
him. 

The tar baby sat still and Brother Rabbit looked 
at it a long time. At last he came up to it and said, 
^^How do you do, tar babyl’^ 

The tar baby didn’t answer, and Brother Rabbit 
said, ^^How do you do,” again. 

But the tar baby didn’t answer; so Brother Rabbit 
said, ^H’ll teach you better manners.” With that he 
slapped the tar baby’s face. 

His paw stuck fast. ^^Let go of my paw,” said 
Brother Rabbit, ^^or I’ll slap you again.” But the tar 
baby didn’t let go. 

In a minute he slapped the tar baby with his other 
paw, and that stuck fast too. 

^^Are you going to let my paws go?” shouted Brother 
Rabbit, but the tar baby didn’t let go. 

Brother Rabbit kicked the tar baby with his hind 
foot and that stuck. Then he was in a rage. He 
screamed, ^^Do you see that foot? You let go of me 
or I’ll kick you so hard with it you’ll think lightning 
has struck you.” Then he kicked with his last foot and 
it stuck. 

Out sprang Brother Gloat shouting, ^^Now I have 
you, you rascal!” 

He tied Brother Rabbit hand and foot and then he 


42 


JUST STORIES 


sat down to think how to kill him. At last he made 
up his mind to burn poor Brother Rabbit. 

Just then Brother GoaUs daughter, Miss Nanny, 
came along and said, ^^Why, Papa, throw that good- 
for-nothing creature into the bramble patch. I want 
you to take me to get some nice grass. 

Brother Rabbit was shaking with fear; but he called 
out, ^^Oh, please donT throw me into the bramble 
X)atch! Oh, please don’t throw me into the bramble 
patch. Burn me, drown me, starve me to death; but 
don’t throw me into the bramble patch.” 

^^Aha, rascal, you don’t like brambles,” said Brother 
Goat. ^‘Into them you go.” Then he ran and threw 
Brother Rabbit into the very middle of the bramble 
patch. 

Brother Rabbit fell on his feet. How he laughed. 
He kept calling all day, ‘^Born and bred in the bramble 
patch. Born and bred in the bramble patch.” 

Brother Goat was so much vexed, that he took his 
whole family and moved away. 

So Brother Rabbit was happy forever after. 


A Day 

T 11 tell you how the sun arose, 

^ A ribbon at a time; 

The steeples swam in amethyst, 

The news like squirrels ran. 

The hills imtied their bonnets. 

The bobolinks begun. 

Then I said softly to myself, 

^^That must have been the sun!^’ 

But how he set I know not. 

There seemed a purple stile. 

Which little yellow boys and girls 
Were climbing all the while. 

’Till w^hen they reached the other side, 

A dominie in gray 

Put gently up the evening bars 
And led the flock away. 

Emily Dickinson 


43 


The Long Leather Bag 



A 


LONGr time ago, there 
was a widow. She had 
three daughters. When their 
father died he left her a long 
leather bag filled with gold 
and silver. 

A wicked woman wanted to 
steal the long leather bag, so 
she dressed herself up in rags 
and went to the house to beg. 

The mother went to the kitchen 
to get her some food. Then the 
wicked woman went in quietly 
and took the long leather bag. 
From that day the widow and her 
three daughters were very poor. She had hard work 
to bring them up. 

At last they were all big girls, but they were still 
very poor. 

One day the eldest girl said, ‘^Mother, I am a big 
girl now. It is too bad for me to be doing nothing 
to help you. Let me go away and make my fortune.’^ 
So the mother gave her some lunch and let her go. 

44 


THE LONG LEATHER BAG 


45 


The girl said if she did not come back in a year and 
a day, they might know she was well off. 

She traveled away and away, farther than I can 
tell you and twice as far as you can tell me. Then 
she came to a strange country. 

She went to a little house she saw. An old woman 
was living in it. 

The girl asked the old woman for work. The old 
woman said, ^^Come in if you want to work. I need 
a maid.^^ 

‘‘What shall I have to doV’ said the girl. 

^‘You will have to wash me and dress me and sweep 
the hearth clean. But you must never look up the 
chimney. ’ ’ 

The girl thought she could do all that, so the old 
w^oman said she could stay. 

The next morning she washed the old woman and 
dressed her, and the old woman went out. 

The girl swept the hearth clean. Then she thought 
about the chimney. She thought after all she would 
look up the chimney, 

• She looked up and saw her mother ^s long leather 
bag of gold and silver. She took it down and started 
to run home as fast as she could. 

On the way she saw a horse. The horse said, “Rub 
me, rub me. I have not been rubbed for seven long 
years. 


46 


JUST STORIES 


But the girl only struck at him and drove him away. 

Soon she met a sheep. The sheep cried, ‘‘Cut off 
my wool, cut off my wool. It has not been cut in seven 
long years.’’ 

But she struck the sheep and sent it running away. 

Then she met a goat. The goat called, “Change my 
tether, change my tether. It has not been changed 
for seven long years.” 

But the girl threw a stone at the goat and ran on 
toward her home. 

Next she came to a lime kiln. It said, “Oh, clean me, 
clean me. I have not been cleaned in seven long years. ’ ’ 

But the girl only looked cross at it and ran on. 

Soon she met a cow. The cow cried, “Milk me, milk 
me. I have not been milked for seven long years.” 

The girl struck at the cow and chased her away. 

Next came a mill. The mill said: “Oh, turn me, 
turn me. I have not been turned in seven long years. ’ ’ 

But the girl did not listen. It was night and she 
went in and lay down behind the door. Under her head 
she put the long leather bag. 

The old woman came back and found the girl gone. 
She ran to the chimney and looked up. The long 
leather bag was gone too. She was very angry. So 
she started after the girl. 

When she came to the horse, she said, “Oh, horse 
of mine, did you see this maid of mine, with my tig. 


THE LONG LEATHER BAG 


47 


with my tag, with my long leather bag, and all my 
gold and silver?’’ 

^‘Yes,” said the horse. “She went by here not long 
ago.” 

The old woman ran on till she met the sheep. She 
said, “Sheep of mine, did you see this maid of mine, 
with my tig, with my tag, with my long leather bag, 
and all my gold and silver?” 

“Yes,” said the sheep. “She went by here not long 
ago.” 

So on she went till she came to the goat. “Goat, 
goat of mine, did you see this maid of mine, with my 

C'* — 

tig, with my tag, with my long leather bag, and all my 
gold and silver?” 

“Yes,” said the goat. “She went by here not long 
ago.” 

On and on went the old woman. When she came to 
the cow, she said, “Cow, cow of mine, did you see this 
maid of mine, with my tig, with my tag, with my long 
leather bag, and all my gold and silver?” 

“Yes,” said the cow. “She went by here not long 
ago.” 

At last the old woman came to the mill. “Mill, mill 
of mine, did you see this maid of mine, with my tig, 
with my tag, with my long leather bag, and all my 
gold and silver?” 

“She is sleeping behind my door,” said the mill. 


48 


JUST STORIES 


So the old woman went in and struck the girl with 
a white rod. That turned her into a white stone. Then 
the woman took the long leather bag and went back 
to her house. 

The girl was not back home in a year and a day. 
So her mother and sisters thought she was doing well. 
They did not know she was turned into a stone. 

Then the second girl said, Mother, it is too bad for 
me to sit here all the time. I ought to go away and 
find work. My sister is away working. Let me go too. 
I will come home in a year and a day if I do not find 
work.’’ 

So her mother gave her a Irmcli and she went away. 
She did just as her sister had done. She found the 
old woman’s house and stayed to work for her. 

She ran away with the long leather bag. The old 
woman ran after her and turned her into a white stone. 

In a year and a day the youngest sister said, ^^Oh, 
mother, I want to go away to work. You are too poor 
to keep a big girl. My sisters have not come home. 
So they must be doing well. Let me go too.” 

So her mother gave her a lunch and she went away. 
She went away and away. She went till she came to 
the old woman’s house. 

The old woman was standing at the door. 

Where are you going?” she said to the girl, 
am going to find work,” said the girl. 


THE LONG LEATHER BAG 


49 


‘‘Will you come and work for meV^ said the old 
woman, “I need a maid.’’ 

“What shall I have to do?” said the girl. 

“A^oii will have to wash me and comb my hair and 
sweep the floor. But you must never look up the 
chimney. ’ ’ 

So the girl stayed to work for her. In the morning 
she washed the old woman and combed her hair, and 
the old woman went out. 

The girl swept the floor clean. Then she thought 
about the chimney. She looked up it and saw her 
mother’s long leather bag. She took the bag on her 
back and started away home with it. 

On her way she saw the horse. The horse said, 
“Rub me, rub me, I have not been rubbed in seven 
long years.” 

“Poor horse,” said the girl. “It is too bad. I will 
rub you.” 

So she laid down the bag and rubbed the horse. Then 
she went on. Soon she came to the sheep. 

The sheep said, “Cut off my wool, cut off my wool. 
It has not been cut for seven long years.” 

“Poor sheep,” said the girl. “I will cut your wool.” 
And she laid down the bag and cut the sheep’s wool. 

Then she went on till she met the goat. The goat 
said, “Change my tether, change my tether. It has not 
been changed in seven long years.” 


50 


JUST STORIES 


''Poor goat/’ said the girl. will change your 
tether.” And she laid down the bag and changed the 
goat’s tether. 

Next she came to the lime kiln. The lime kiln said, 
"Clean me, clean me. I have not been cleaned in seven 
long years.” "Poor lime kiln,” said the girl, "I will 
clean you.” So she laid down the bag and cleaned 
the lime kiln. 

Then she ran on till she came to the cow. The cow 
said, "Milk me, milk me, I have not been milked in 
seven long years.” "Poor old cow,” said the girl, "I 
will milk you.” So she laid down the bag and milked 
the cow. 

At last she came to the mill. The mill said, "Turn 
me, turn me. I have not been turned in seven long 
years.” 

"Poor mill,” said the girl, "I will turn you.” And 
she laid down the bag and turned the mill. 

It was night, so she went in and lay down behind 
the door. Soon she was asleep. 

The old woman came home and did not see the girl. 
So she ran to the chimney and looked up it. The bag 
was gone. 

The old woman was very angry. She started after 
the girl as fast as she could. 

Soon she came to the horse. "Horse, horse of mine, 
did you see that maid of mine with my tig, with my 


THE LONG LEATHER BAG 


51 


tag, with my long leather bag, and all my gold and 
silver?’^ 

But the horse said, ^‘Do you think I have nothing 
to do but watch your maids for you? Go and ask 
somebody else/^ 

Then she went to the sheep, Sheep, sheep of mine, 
did you see that maid of mine, with my tig, with my 
tag, with my long leather bag, and all my gold and 
silver?/’ 

But the sheep said, ^^Do you think I have nothing to 
do but watch your maids for you? Go away, I am 
busy.” 

Then she went on till she came to the goat. ^^Goat, 
goat of mine, have you seen that maid of mine, with my 
tig, with my tag, with my long 
leather bag, and all my gold 
and silver?” 

The goat said, ^^Do you 
think I have nothing to do but 
watch your maids for you?” 

Then she went on till she 
came to the lime kiln. 

Lime kiln, lime kiln 
of mine, did 
you see that 
maid of , 
mine, with 



52 


JUST STOEIES 


my tig, with my tag, with my long leather bag, and all 
my gold and silver 

^‘Do you think I have nothing to do but watch your 
maids for youU’ said the lime kiln. ^‘Gro ask somebody 
else.^’ 

At last she came to the mill. ^Alill, mill of mine, 
did you see that maid of mine, with my tig, with my 
tag, with my long leather bag, and all my gold and 
silver The mill said, ^^Come nearer and whisper to 
me. I know where she is.’’ 

The old woman was glad to hear that. She ran 
up so close that the wheel caught her and that was 
the end of her. 

The old woman dropped the white stick out of her 
hand. The mill told the girl to touch the two white 
stones with it. 

She did as she was told and her two sisters stood 
up before her. 

They took turns carrying the long leather bag and 
soon they were at home. Their mother had been crying 
all the time they were away. She was glad to see 
them back. They were never poor again. 

Adapted from Seumas McManus 


Peter Rabbit 


/^NCE upon a time there were four little rabbits. 

Their names were Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton-tail, and 
Peter. They lived with their mother in a sand bank 
under a tree. 

^^Now, my dears,’’ said old Mrs. Rabbit one day, 
^‘you may go into the fields and down the lane. But 
don’t go into Mr. McGregor’s garden. Your father 
had an accident there. Mrs. McGregor made a pie 
of him. 

^^Now run along and don’t get into mischief. I 
am going out.” 

Then old Mrs. Rabbit took her basket and umbrella 
and went to the baker’s. She bought a loaf of brown 
bread and five cookies. 

Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cotton-tail were good little 
rabbits. They went down the lane to look for ripe 
blackberries. 

But Peter was very naughty. He ran straight away 
to Mr. McGregor’s garden and squeezed in under the 
gate. 

First he ate some lettuce. Then he ate some beans. 
Then he ate a radish. Then he began to feel ill. So 
he went to look for some parsley, 

53 


54 


JUST STORIES 


He met Mr. McGregor in the cucumber bed. Mr. 
McGregor was on his knees. But he jumped up and 



ran after Peter. He had a long rake in his hand and 
he called, ^^Stop thief. 

Peter was very much frightened. He ran all about 
the garden looking for the gate, but he had forgotten 
the way back to it. 

He lost one shoe in the cucumber bed and the other 
shoe in the parsley bed. 

After that he ran on four feet. So he went much 
faster. But he ran into a wire fence and got caught 
by the big buttons on his jacket. It was a blue jacket 
with brass buttons. It was new. 

Peter thought he was lost and he began to cry. Some 


PETER RABBIT 


55 


friendly sparrows heard him and flew to him. They 
could hear Mr. McGlregor coming and they begged 
Peter to pull hard. 

Just then Mr. McGregor came up with a sieve. He 
thought he could pop it over Peter and catch him. But 
Peter wriggled out of his jacket just in time. 

He rushed into the tool shed and jumped into a 
watering pot. It would have been a good place to hide 
but it was full of water. 

Mr. McGregor was sure Peter was in the tool shed. 
He began to lift up the empty flower pots to look for 
him. Then poor, wet Peter sneezed and Mr. McGregor 
was after him in no time. 

He tried to put his foot on Peter. Peter jumped out 
of a little window and broke three flower pots. Mr. 
McGregor could not get out at the little window and 
he was tired running, so he gave Peter up and went 
back to his work. 

Peter sat down to rest. He was trembling and he 
did not know which way to go. He was very wet and 
tired. 

After awhile he began to walk around slowly and 
look for the gate. He found a door in the wall. But 
it was locked, and he couldn’t squeeze imder it. 

An old mouse was running in and out under the door. 
She was carrying beans to her children. 

Peter asked the old mouse the way to the gate. She 


56 


JUST STORIES 


had a big bean in her mouth and could not answer. 
So she shook her head at him. Peter began to cry. 

He tried once more to find the way out. He came 
to the pond where Mr. McGregor filled his watering 
pots. A white cat was staring into the water at some 
gold fish. She sat very still. Peter didn’t wait to ask 
her the way. He had heard about cats from other 
rabbits. 

Soon he heard a noise near him. It went scratch, 
scratch, scratch, scratch. Peter ran into the bushes. 
In a little while he peeped out. Then he crept out and 
climbed into the wheelbarrow. 

He saw Mr. McGregor in the cucumber bed again. 
He was hoeing'. His back was toward Peter. Peter 
was sitting up and he saw the gate on the other side 
of Mr. McGregor. 

He got down very quietly and ran as fast as he 
could go behind some bushes. 

Mr. McGregor saw him at the corner of the garden, 
but Peter did not care. He squeezed under the gate 
and was safe. 

Mr. McGregor made a scarecrow of Peter’s new 
jacket and shoes to frighten the birds. 

Peter never stopped running. He never looked 
behind him. All he wanted was to get home. He was 
so tired he had to lie down and shut his eyes as soon 
as he got into the house. 


PETER RABBIT 


57 


His mother was busy getting supper. She wondered 
what he had done with his new jacket and shoes. It 
was the second pair of shoes and jacket in a week. 

Peter told his 
mother where they 
were. She said he 
would have to go 
without any. 

Peter’s mother 
put him to bed. 

Then she made 
some camomile tea and gave Peter a dose. 

But Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cotton-tail had bread and 
milk and blackberries for supper. 



Mary’s Lamb 



Mary had a little lamb, 

Its fleece was white as snow ; 

And everywhere that Mary went, 
The lamb was sure to go. 

He followed her to school one 
day — 

That was against the rule, 

It made , the children laugh and 
play, 

To see a lamb at school. 

So the teacher turned him out, 
But still he lingered near, 

1,^ And waited patiently about, 
Till Mary did appear. 


And then he ran to her, and 
laid 

His head upon her arm. 

As if he said, ^H’m not afraid, — 
You’ll keep me from all 
harm, ’ ’ 


‘^What makes the lamb love 
Mary so?” 

The eager children cry. 

‘'Oh, Mary loves the lamb, you 
know, ’ ’ 

The teacher did reply. 


58 


Beauty and the Beast 

rpHERE was once a rich man who had three daugh- 
ters and three sons. The girls were all beautiful, 
but the youngest was the most beautiful of all. She 
was always called Beauty. 

The older girls were proud of their beauty. They 
were proud of their money. They were proud of their 
fine clothes. 

Beauty liked her fine home. She liked her dresses 
and her rings. She liked to be beautiful. But she 
was not proud. She was kind to the poor. She often 
stayed at home from parties to sit with her father. 

At last the father lost all his money, and had nothing 
left but a farm. 

^^My poor children,’’ he said. ‘^You will have to 
live in the country. You will have to work hard. My 
money is all gone.” Tears ran down his cheeks as he 
said this. 

The girls all cried, but Beauty soon wiped her eyes. 
She said, Crying will not do any good.” 

The other girls said, ^^We do not know how to 
work.” Beauty said, ^^We must learn how.” 

There was no help for it. They had to go to the 
country to live. 


59 


60 JUST STORIES 

The father and the three boys plowed the fields and 
planted the wheat. 

Beauty was out of bed every morning at four o’clock. 
She made the fires, swept the house, and cooked the 
breakfast. 

She found this hard work, but she soon began to 
grow used to it. She found time to read and sing. 
So she was not unhappy. Her cheeks grew rosy and 
red. She was more beautiful than ever. 

The two sisters did nothing. They stayed in bed till 
ten o’clock. Then they sat in rocking-chairs and 
talked about being so poor. 

The father heard that one of his ships had come in. 
He had thought it was lost. 

He had to go to the city to see about the ship. The 
two girls begged him to bring them some new dresses. 

^^Wliat shall I bring you. Beauty 

^‘You need not spend any of the money for me. My 
dresses are very nice. I do not need new ones,” said 
Beauty. 

‘^Oh, let me bring you something,” said the father. 

^^Well, then, bring me a rose,” said Beauty. ^^We 
have none in our garden.” 

On the way home the father lost himself in the 
forest. Mght came on. It rained and snowed very 
hard. The wind almost blew him from his horse, He 
was afraid he should die in the forest. 


BEAUTY AND THE BEAST 


61 


All at once he saw a light. He went to it and found 
a beautiful palace. The gates were open. He went in. 
The doors were open, but no one was to be seen. 

There was a stable behind the palace. He put his 
poor horse into a stall and gave him some hay. 

Then he went in at the door. No one was there. 
He went on till he came to a dining room. Still no 
one was to be seen. 

He waited a long time but no one came. So he sat 
down and ate. He was trembling all the time. 

He waited till twelve o’clock for some one to come. 
Then he thought he had better look about. 

He opened all the doors he saw. In one room there 
was a bed. Being very tired he went to bed and soon 
fell asleep. 

It was ten o’clock next day when he woke up. Beside 
the bed there was a new suit of clothes. His old ones 
were gone. 

He dressed himself in the new clothes. Then he 
looked out at the window. He thought he would see 
snow on the ground. But there was no snow at all. 

A beautiful rose garden was what he saw. ^^This 
must be fairyland,” he thought. 

He went and ate his breakfast. Then he went to 
feed his horse and get ready to go. 

The roses made him think of Beauty. can at 
least take one rose for her,” he thought. ^^The master 


62 JUST STORIES i 

I 

of the house will not care if I take one. There are i 
so many.’’ 

No sooner did his hand touch the rose than he heard 
a loud roar. A frightful beast came running toward ; 
him. 

‘^Bad man/’ roared the beast. let you come into 
my palace to save your hfe. Now you will take my j 
roses. You shall die for this.” j 

The poor man fell upon his knees. ‘‘I promised to 
take my daughter a rose,” said he. did not think 
any one would care if I took one of these. There are 
so many.” 

^^You have a daughter,” roared the beast. ^‘You 
may go now. But send your daughter to take your 
place. If she does not come, you must come back.” 1 

The poor father thought he would go home and sec j 
his children. Then he could come back and die. S 

^^Go to the room you slept in,” said the beast. ^^Pill 
a chest with anything you see there. I will send it to 
your house.” 

The good man went to the room and filled the chest 
with money. Then he set off, and soon reached home. 

The chest of money was there before he was. Nobody 
knew how it had come. 

He gave Beauty the rose, and told her what it had 
cost him. 

The two girls began to cry and blame Beauty. The 


BEAUTY AND THE BEAST 


63 


three brothers said, ^‘Neither Beauty nor our father 
shall go. We will go and kill the beast. 

^Wou cannot do that,’^ said the father. am old. 
I will go.’^ 

Beauty would not do as her father said. In a few 
days she and her father went to the beast’s palace. 

The father put his horse into the stable. No one 
was to be seen. Then he and Beauty went into the 
palace. It was just as he had seen it before. 

They ate supper, and then waited for the beast to 
come. 

A loud roar sounded through the palace and the 
beast came rushing in. 

^^So here you are,” said he to Beauty. ^Wou are 
a good girl.” 

Then the beast went out and left them. 

Beauty and her father went to bed. 

In the morning Beauty said, ^^Go home. Father. 
I am not afraid. I think the beast will not hurt me.” 
So her father went away. 

When he was gone. Beauty began to look about. 
The palace was the most beautiful place she had ever 
seen. 

Over one door was written, Beauty’s Room.” This 
surprised her very much. She opened the door and 
looked in. It was the most beautiful room in all the 
world. 


64 


JUST STORIES 


There were cases full of books and music. A grand 
piano stood open. Birds sang in golden cages. 

^^The beast cannot mean to eat me/’ she thought, 
will not be afraid. I think he must be a good 
beast.” 

At noon she found the table set for her. But no 
one was to be seen. 

At night, when she sat down to eat, the beast 
came in. ^^May I see you eatU’ said he. 

Yes, if you please,” said Beauty. But she was very 
much frightened. 

will not stay if you do not want me. Do you 
think me very ugly ?” said the beast. 

Beauty always told the truth. So she said, ‘‘Yes, 
but I think you are very good.” 

Beauty ate, and the beast stood near, looking at her. 
“Will you stay here always?” he asked. 

“I will do as you wish,” said Beauty. “I came to 
die in my father’s place.” 

Beauty began to be fond of the beast. He was so 
good to her. 

At last she began to be homesick. She begged the 
beast to let her go home and visit her dear father and 
sisters and brothers. She said she would come back 
in a week. 

The beast said she might. ^^Lay this ring on your 
table to-night. In the morning you will be at homo. 


BEAUTY AND THE BEAST 


65 


At the end of the week lay the ring on your table at 
home. In the morning you will be here.’^ 

Beauty did as he said. In the morning she woke up 
in her own bed. 

Her father kissed her a hundred times. He was so 
glad to see her. At the end of the week she thought 
she would stay just one more day with her father. 

But the next night she laid the ring on the table. 
In the morning she was in the beast’s palace. 

She waited all day. No beast came. ^^Wliere can 
lie be?” thought Beauty. will go and look for him.” 

Beauty found the poor beast lying in the rose garden. 
She thought he was dead. She began to cry, and some 
of her tears fell on his face. 

In a moment the beast sprang to his feet. But he 
was a beast no longer. He was a handsome prince. 



O NCE upon a time a lien had ten little chickens. 

Nine of them were fine little chicks. But one of 
them was only half as large as his brothers. His 
mother called him Half-chick. 

She felt very sad about her poor little son. She 
thought he would never grow big. She thought he 
could never take care of himself. 

Half-chick’s mother took good care of him. She 
wanted to keep him under her wing all the time. 

But Half-chick was a bright little fellow. He did 
not want to stay under his mother’s wing. He wanted 
to go out and see the world. 

One day he said, Mother, I am tired staying here. 
Let me go to see the king.” 

His mother began to cry, ^^Ho not go away. Half- 
chick. You are too little. You will be killed. Stay ' 
with me. We will be happy at home.” i 

But Half-chick did not want to stay. He wanted to | 
66 


HALF-CHICK 67 

see the world and earn some money. So his mother 
let him go. 

^‘Be a good chicken/’ said she. ^‘Be kind to every- 
body yon meet. Come home soon. I shall not be 
happy until you come back.” 

So Half-chick went on his way. In a field he came 
to a brook. It was choked with weeds and sand. Its 
water could not flow along. 

^ ^Half-chick, Half-chick,” cried the brook. ^'Come 
and help me. Take away the weeds and sand. They 
are in my way.” 

Half-chick said, have no time to help you. I 
am going to see the king and I will not stop.” So on 
he went. 

Then he came to a fire. The fire was dying. It 
would soon be dead. 

Half-chick, Half-chick, help me,” cried the fire. 
am dying. I shall soon be dead. Peed me some dry 
leaves and sticks.” 

Half-chick said, have no time to feed fires. Peed 
yourself. I am going to see the king. I have no time 
to waste.” 

Soon it was night. Half-chick slept in a little tree. 
He was on his way bright and early in the morning. 
He did not think about the little brook and the fire. 

The wind was caught among the branches of a big 
oak tree. It could not get away. 


68 


JUST STOEIES 


“Half-chick, Half-chick, help me,’’ cried the wind. 
“I can not get away. I am dying. Help me.” 

“I can’t stay here all morning,” said Half-chick. “I 
am going to see the king. Get loose yourself.” 

Soon Half-chick saw the king’s palace. He thought 
he would stand at the door and wait for the king. 

The cook looked out and saw him. “Here is just 
what I want,” said he. “I’ll catch that chicken and 
make soup of him.” 

So he caught Half-chick and put him into a pot to 
boil. 

Half-chick was frightened. He said, “Water, water, 
do not wet me. I do not like it.” 

“Half-chick,” said the water, “you would not help 
me when I was in the brook. The cook caught me and 
put me in this pot to make soup. I cannot help you 
now.” 

Then the fire began to burn. Half-chick hopped up 
and down. “Fire, fire, do not burn me,” he said. “It 
hurts me.” 

“Half-chick,” said the fire, “you would not feed 
me when I was dying in the woods. Now I cannot 
help you.” 

The cook looked into the pot. The water was all 
gone. The fire was dead. Half-chick was burned black. 
The cook threw him out of the window. The wind 
caught him up and blew him away very fast. 


HALF-CHICK 


69 


not blow me away so fast/’ said Half-chick. 
^‘You will kill me. Please put me down.” 

Half-chick,” said the wind, ^‘you would not help 
me when I was caught in the oak tree. Now I cannot 
help you.” 

Half-chick blew away and away over the 
trees and the housetops until he caught fast to 
the church steeple. There he stayed. 

He always turns his head toward 
the wind. This shows people which 
way the wind is blowing. 



Hop-O’-My Thumb 

T here once lived a poor wood 
cutter who had seven boys. 
One of them was very tiny 
indeed. He was not more than 
a foot high, but he had very good 
sense. His name was Hop- 
0 ’-My-Thumb. 

Not one of the boys was 
large enough to work and 
the poor father found it 
very hard to keep them. 

At last there was noth- 
ing left to eat. The father said to the mother, ^^You 
see there is nothing for the boys to eat. We cannot 
see them starve before our eyes. Let us take them 
out into the forest and leave them. Some rich man 
may find them and take care of them.’’ 

The poor mother cried for a long time. At last 
she said she would do as the father wished. 

Hop-O’-My-Thumb heard all of this talk. He lay 
awake nearly all night thinking what he could do. 

Early in the morning he filled his pockets with little 
white stones. 



70 


HOP-O’-MY-THUMB 


71 


Soon the father and mother took the children out 
into the forest. Hop-O’-My-Thumb dropped the little 
white stones all along the way. 

Wlien they were deep in the forest the father and 
mother slipped away. 

The children soon saw they were alone and began 
to cry. ^^Do not cry,” said Hop-O’-My-Thumb. 
will take you home.” 

Late at night they came to the house, but they were 
afraid to go in. So they stood outside the door. 

That day a man paid the wood cutter some money 
he owed him. 

The poor mother was crying because the children 
were gone. ^Hf we only had them back, we could feed 
them,” she said. 

The children heard her and ran in. Their mother 
kissed them all a dozen times. Then she went out and 
bought meat enough for supper. 

The money lasted a long time. When it was all gone, 
there was nothing to eat. So the poor father and 
mother decided to take the children out into the forest 
again. 

Again Hop-O’-My-Thumb heard what was said. In 
the morning he tried to get some more stones. But 
the door was locked. 

He had a piece of bread for his breakfast. He did 
not eat it, but put it into his pocket. 


72 


JUST STORIES 


On the way to the forest he dropped crumbs. But 
the birds ate them. When Hop-O’-My-Thumb tried to 
hnd the way home he could not. 

Mght came and the children were afraid. It began 
to rain and made them wet and cold. 

Hop-O’-My-Thumb climbed a tree. Far away he saw 
a light. 

They walked and walked and walked. At last they 
came to the light. It was in a large house. 

They knocked at the door. It was opened by a very 
pleasant woman. 

Hop-O’-My-Thumb told her they were lost. All the 
children begged her to let them in. 

Poor children,” said she, ^^this house belongs to a 
giant. He eats children. Run away as fast as you 
can.” 

‘^We cannot stay in the forest,” said Hop-O’-My- 
Thumb. ^^The wolves will eat us. Perhaps the giant 
will be sorry for us.” 

The giant’s wife thought she might hide the boys. 
So she let them come in. 

She hid them under a bed at once. It was not a 
moment too soon, for the giant came stamping in to 
his supper. 

In a minute he shouted. smell strangers. Where 
are theyl” He went snuffing about like a dog until 
he found the boys. 


HOP-O^MY-THUMB 


73 


He pulled them all out and looked at them. will 
have these boys for dinner to-morrow. Peed them well 
to-night, wife, and put them to bed.’^ 

The poor woman was afraid of him, so she did just 
as he said. But she whispered to them to run away 
in the morning. 

Hop-0 ^-My-Thumb stayed awake all night. Early in 
the morning he woke all the boys. The giant was still 
asleep. The boys slipped out at a window that was 
left open for them. 

Away they all ran. They never thought of stopping 
to rest. They ran and ran. 

The giant woke up late and found the boys gone, 
will soon catch them,’’ he said. 

He put on his seven league boots and went out. It 
took him a long time to find the road the boys had 
taken. 

At last he found it and set off. The boys heard him 
coming and hid under a rock. 

The giant came and sat down on that very rock. 
His feet were tired, so he took off his boots to rest. 
He leaned his head back against a tree and in two 
minutes he was fast asleep. 

Hop-O’-My-Thumb crept out and looked at him. 
Then he put on the seven league boots. It is very 
strange, but they were a good fit for him. They were 
fairy boots and would fit any foot. 


74 


JUST STORIES 


Hop-O’-My-Thumb took the boys away and hid them 
in a hollow tree. Then he ran all about till he found 
the way home. 

He showed the boys the way, but he went to find 
the king. There was a war going on at that time. 
The king was glad to have Hop-O’-My-Thumb to carry 
messages. 

Before long Hop-O’-My-Thumb had his pockets full 
of gold. Wlien the war was over he went home and 
found his father and mother as poor as ever. So he 
gave them all the gold he had. 

Hop-O’-My-Thumb stayed in the king’s army. He 
always had enough money to send home and he went 
home as often as he could. 

He was very fond of his father and mother so he 
was glad to make them rich. 

The father and mother and brothers were all very 
proud of Hop-O’-My-Thumb. 


A Swallowtail Butterfly 

/^NE day a beautiful butterfly went flitting along 
in the sunshine. It looked like a flower, or a 
jewel that had taken wings. 

The butterfly was velvety black. Its wings were 
spotted and barred with yellow and blue-green like the 
colors in a peacock’s tail. 

The wings were scalloped at the edges. The hind 
pair had two scallops longer than the others. This 
made the butterfly look as if it had a tail like a swallow. 

Here and there the butterfly flitted. It looked as if 
it had nothing in the world to do but to enjoy itself. 

It did have something to do. It was looking for a 
parsley plant. By and by it found one in the vegetable 
garden. Like a flash it darted down out of sight. 
Then it flew up again and went on its way. 

On the under side of the parsley leaf the butterfly 
left a little greenish-white egg. The egg was so small 
that no chicken would think of picking it off. 

The leaf sheltered the egg from sun and rain. 

In a short time a tiny black caterpillar came out. 
It had a white spot on its back. 

The caterpillar was very tiny indeed. When it was 
still it could hardly be seen. Small as it was, it knew 

75 


76 


JUST STORIES 


just what to do. It was a baby caterpillar, and the 
business of all babies is to eat and sleep. 

Parsley leaves are just what such caterpillars like 
for food, and this one began at once to eat. It soon 
made a hole in the leaf. When it was tired, it lay 
still and slept. 

The little caterpillar cared for nothing but eating. 
It did not see the blue sky and the bright flowers. Its 
world was all green and all made to eat. 

No matter how much it ate, the little caterpillar was 
still hungry. Eating so much made it grow very fast. 
It was soon too large for its skin, and what do you 
think it did then? It burst its skin down the back 
and slipped out of it, just as a little girl might take 
off her dress when it has been unbuttoned. 

The caterpillar came out in a bright new skin. This 
skin was of a very different color from the old skin. 
It was even a brighter green than the parsley plant. 
It had black stripes with orange spots in them across 
the back. 

The skin was soft at first. It stretched to fit the 
caterpillar, which was much larger than it had been. 
The caterpillar was hungry as usual and soon began 
to eat. 

Time went on until the caterpillar again found its 
skin too tight. Again all it had to do was to burst the 
old skin and come out fine and new and much larger. 


A SWALLOWTAIL BUTTERFLY 77 

This it did four or five times. Each time it grew more 
noticeable. 

Under a fold of the skin near its head, it had two 
small orange-colored horns. It could put these horns 
out in a way that was enough to frighten anybody. 
Wlienever it was disturbed, out came the little horns 
making a heavy, unpleasant smell. 

Two birds had a nest in that same garden. By the 
time the caterpillar was full grown, they had three 
little birds. 

These little birds were always hungry too. They 
were poor naked little creatures. They needed plenty 
of food to make them grow, and to give them a nice 
coat of feathers such as their parents wore. 

At the first peep of day the little birds were awake, 
crying for food, and the old birds were awake and 
away to find it for them. All day long the father and 
mother were busy bringing worms, caterpillars, butter- 
flies, bugs — anything that little birds like. All day 
long three little mouths were wide open as soon as 
the flutter of wings was heard. 

The old birds spied the caterpillar on the parsley 
and went to look at it. Out came the horns. ^‘That is 
not a good caterpillar,’^ said the mother bird. ^^See 
its horns. See the stripes on its back. That kind of 
caterpillar has a bad taste and makes birds ill. Come 
away. Do not touch it.” 


78 


JUST STORIES 


Away flew the two birds. They had no time to 
waste on caterpillars that could not be eaten. 

One day the caterpillar lost its appetite. It felt like 
leaving the pleasant green plant where it had lived so 
long and so happily. 

It crept down to the ground and crawled away very 
fast. It spent some time in crawling about. Then it 
crept up on a low bush. Soon it had spun a little point 
of silk on the under side of a twig. Then its skin split 
down the back and it drew itself carefully out. It 
fastened its last pair of legs to the little point of silk 
on the twig. After that it spun a silken thread about 
its body to hold it up. 

In a very short time the green caterpillar had turned 
into a dull-colored chrysalis. The chrysalis was rough 
like bark and had a ridge down the back. It looked 
very much like the twig. 

Anybody might have thought that the caterpillar was 
dead. But it was not dead. It was still alive in a new 
form, but it did not move. 

In a few weeks the chrysalis split on the part that 
looks like a head. A blue and black butterfly dragged 
itself slowly out. 

This butterfly looked very different from those that 
are seen flying about on a summer day. It was damp 
and weak. Its wings were crumpled and small. Its 
body was stretched out like a w^orm when it is crawling. 


A SWALLOWTAIL BUTTERFLY 


79 


The butterfly crept slowly to a place where it could 
hang by its claws. There it stayed with its wings 
hanging straight down. It began to breathe deeply and 
to wave its wings in the air. 

The butterfly grew stronger as time passed by. In 
a few hours the poor, wet, weak, crawling thing had 
become a creature of the air. It had four beautiful 
wings. It had a slender graceful body. It had six 
velvety legs. It was a swallowtail butterfly. 


+ + 


Hurt no living thing: 

Ladybird, nor butterfly, 

Nor moth with dusty wing. 

Nor cricket chirping cheerily. 
Nor grasshopper so light of leap, 
Nor dancing gnat, nor beetle fat. 
Nor harmless worms that creep. 


Christina Rossetti 


I 


Thistle Seed 







Thistle seed, thistle seed, 
Fly away, fly; 

The hair on your body 
Will take you up high. 

Let the wind whirl you 
Around and around; 
You’ll not hurt yourself 
YTien you fall to the 
ground. 

From the Chinese 


) 


80 


i 


Billy Beg and His Bull 

/^NCE upon a time there were a king and queen 
who had one son called Billy Beg. The queen 
gave Billy a bull. Billy was very fond of the bull 
and the bull was very fond of Billy. 

When Billy was grown to be a young man the queen 
died. With her last breath, she asked the king not 
to part Billy and his bull. The king promised, come 
what might, come what may, he never would. 

After some time the king married again. The new 
queen did not like Billy and she liked his bull still less. 
She tried to get the king to kill the bull, but the 
king would not break his promise. So the queen went 
to a witch to ask what to do. 

The witch said, ^^What will you give me to rid you 
of the bulir’ 

Anything you ask,’’ said the queen. 

^Wery well, then,” said the witch, ^^you take to your 
bed very ill, and call me for your nurse.” 

So the queen took to her bed very ill, and the witch 
was called. When the king came in to see how the 
queen was, the witch said, There is only one thing 
that will save her life?” 

‘^What is that?” said the king. 


81 


82 JUST STORIES 

Three mouthfuls of the blood of Billy Beg^s bull/^ 
said the witch. 

But the king would not hear of breaking his promise 
to Billy’s mother. 

The queen grew worse and worse for three days, 
and then the king gave up and said the bull should 
be killed. 

When Billy heard that his bull was to be killed he 
became very down-hearted, and went about looking 
very sad. The bull saw him and asked what was wrong. 
Billy told the bull what was wrong, and the bull said, 
Cheer up. Do as I tell you, and the queen will never 
get any of my blood.” 

The next day the bull was led up to be killed and 
Billy came and stood near him. ^^Jump on my back, 
Billy,” said the bull, and up Billy jumped. 

With that the bull leaped nine miles high, nine miles 
deep, and nine miles broad, and came down with Billy 
sticking between his horns. Then away he rushed over 
the top of the queen and away he ran where you 
wouldn’t know night from day nor day from night, 
over high hills and low hills, sheep walks and bullock 
traces, the Cove of Cork, and old Tom Fox with his 
bugle horn. 

At last they stopped. ^^Now Billy,” said the bull, 
''put your hand into my left ear and take out a napkin 
you will find there. When you spread the napkin out. 


BILLY BEG AND HIS BULL 83 

it will be covered with eating and drinking fit for a 
king/’ 

Billy did as lie was told. Sure enough, when he 
spread the napkin out, it was covered with eating and 
drinking fit for a king. Billy ate and drank and put 
the napkin back where he got it. 

Then says the bull, ^‘Put your hand into my right 
ear and you will find a stick. Wave the stick three 
times and it will be turned into a sword and give you 
the strength of a thousand men. When you have no 
need of a sword it will turn back into a stick again.” 

Billy did as he was told. Then said the bull, ^^At 
twelve o’clock to-morrow, I shall have to meet and 
fight a great bull. So get on my back and let us be off.” 

So Billy jumped on the bull’s back, and away went 
the bull, where you wouldn’t know night from day 
nor day from night, over high hills and low hills, sheep 
walks and bullock traces, the Cove of Cork, and old 
Tom Pox and his bugle horn. There he met the other 
bull and they fought, and such a fight was never seen 
before nor since. They knocked the soft ground into 
hard, and the hard into soft, the soft into spring wells, 
the spring wells into rocks, and the rocks into high 
hills. 

They fought till Billy Beg’s bull killed the other. 
Then Billy took out the napkin and had a good dinner. 
After dinner the bull said to Billy, ‘‘To-morrow at 


84 


JUST STORIES 


twelve o’clock, I have to meet the brother of the bull 
I have just killed. He is bigger than the other bull 
and I shall have a hard fight.” 

So Billy got on the bull’s back again and the bull 
started off and away again where you wouldn’t know 
night from day nor day from night, over high hills 
and low hills, sheep walks and bullock traces, the Cove 
of Cork, and old Tom Fox with his bugle horn. There 
they met the brother of the bull that Billy’s bull had 
killed and they at it and fought. 

The like of the fight was never seen before or since. 
They knocked the soft ground into hard and the hard 
into soft, the soft into spring wells, and the spring 
wells into rocks, and the rocks into high hills. 

They fought long and hard and at last Billy’s bull 
killed the other bull. Then Billy ate and drank as 
before and the bull said, To-morrow I must meet and 
fight the brother of the two bulls I killed. He is 
stronger than the others and will kill me. When I am 
dead take the napkin and the stick with you. Then 
you will never be hungry, and with the stick you can 
overcome any thing you fight with. Cut a strip of my 
hide for a belt. As long as you wear the belt nothing 
can kill you.” 

Billy was very sorry to hear that the bull would be 
killed but he got on his back and they started off 
and away where you wouldn’t know night from day 


BILLY BEG AND HIS BULL 


85 


nor day from night, over high hills and low hills, sheep 
walks and bullock traces, the Cove of Cork, and old 
Tom Fox with his bugle horn. 

Sure enough, the next day at twelve, they met the 
great bull, and the two bulls at it and fought. 

Such a fight was never seen before or since. They 
knocked the soft ground into hard, and the hard into 
soft, the soft into spring wells, the spring wells into 
rocks, and the rocks into high hills. They fought long, 
but at last the other bull killed Billy’s. 

Billy was so sorry that he sat beside his bull two 
days without eating and cried all the time. Then he 
cut himself a belt of the bull’s hide and set off with 
the napkin and the stick to seek his fortune. After 
three days he came to a farm that belonged to an 
old gentleman. 

Billy asked the old gentleman for work. The old 
gentleman said he wanted such a boy to herd the cattle. 
Billy asked what cattle he would have to herd and 
what wages he would get. 

Three goats, three cows, three horses, and three 
donkeys,” said the old gentleman, ^^but no boy that 
goes to herd them ever comes home alive. There are 
three giants, brothers, that come to milk the goats and 
cows, and always kill the herd boy, so we will not say 
what wages till we see if you come back alive.” 

^^All right,” said Billy. 


86 


JUST STORIES 


So next morning he got up early, drove out the 
three goats, the three cows, the three horses, and the 
three donkeys to the pasture field. 

.At noon Billy heard three terrible roars that shook 
the nuts off the trees, and up came a giant with three 
heads. 

^ A"^ou are too big for one bite, and too small for two,^’ 
said the giant, ^^What shall I do with you^’’ 
fight you,’’ said Billy. 

Billy soon made a sword of his stick by swinging it 
three times round his head. 

^‘IIow shall I kill yen'? Shall it be by a swing from 
the back, a cut of the sword, or by a blow from 
my fist^” 

^^By a swing from the back if you can,” said Billy. 

So they both laid hold, and Billy lifted the giant 
off his feet and brought him down so hard that he 
sank into the ground up to his arms. 

^^Oh, have mercy,” said the giant. 

But Billy cut off his heads with his sword. 

It was evening when the fight was over. So Billy 
drove home the three goats, three cows, the three 
horses, and the three donkeys. All the pails and kettles 
and bowls in the house wouldn’t hold the milk the cows 
gave that night. 

''Well,” said the old gentleman, "you are the first 
herd boy that ever came back alive, and this is the 


BILLY BEG AND HIS BULL 


87 


first time the cows ever gave any milk. Didn’t you 
see anything in the pastured’ 

Nothing worse than myself,’’ said Billy. ^^What 
about my wages now?” 

^^Well,” said the old gentleman, think you won’t 
come back alive to-morrow, so we will wait and see.” 

Next morning the old gentleman told Billy something 
must have happened to one of the giants, for he had 
only heard two of them roaring. 

After breakfast Billy set off with the three goats, 
the three cows, the three horses, and the three donkeys. 
About twelve he heard six terrible roars that shook 
the nuts off the trees and made his hair stand on end, 
and along came a frightful giant with six heads. 

^^You killed my brother yesterday,” roared the giant 
with his six mouths, but I will pay you to-day. You 
are too big for one bite and too small for two. What 
shall I do with you?” 

^^I’ll fight you,” said Billy, swinging his stick three 
times round his head to make it turn into a sword and 
give him the strength of a thousand men. 

The giant laughed at his size and said, ^^How shall 
I kill you? With a swing from the back, a cut of the 
sword, or a blow from my fist?” 

^^With a swing from the back, if you can,” said Billy. 

So they both laid hold and Billy lifted him off his 
feet and sunk him into the ground up to his arms. 


88 


JUST STORIES 


‘‘Oh, mercy, cried the giant, but Billy cut off his 
six heads. 

It was evening by that time and Billy drove the 
three goats, the three cows, the three horses and the 
three donkeys to the barn. The milk the cows gave 
that night overflowed all the pails and kettles and bowls 
in the house. Running out it made a brook and turned 
an old mill that hadn’t been turned in thirty years. 

The old gentleman was ten times as much surprised 
to see Billy alive as he had been the day before. 

“Didn’t you see anything in the pasture to-day?” 
said he. 

“Nothing w^orse than myself,” said Billy. “What 
about my wages now?” 

“Never mind about your wages till to-morrow,” said 
the old gentleman. “If you come back alive, we’ll 
see then.” 

In the morning the old gentleman said, “I only heard 
one giant roaring last night. The other two must 
be ill.” 

“Perhaps they are dead,” said Billy, as he drove 
out the three goats, the three cows, the three horses, 
and the three donkeys. 

At noon Billy heard so many roars, he couldn’t count 
them. He looked about and saw a giant as big as the 
other two together, with twelve heads. 

“You villain,” roared the giant. “You killed my 


BILLY BEG AND HIS BULL 


89 


two brothers, but I’ll be even with you. You are too 
big for one bite and too small for two. How would 
you rather be killed — by a swing from the back, or a 
cut from the sword, or by a blow from the fist?” 

^‘By a swing from the back,” said Billy, waving his 
stick three times around his head. 

The giant laughed at Billy’s size and they both laid 
hold. Billy swung the giant in the air and sunk him 
into the ground, just as he had the other two. Then 
he cut off his twelve heads and drove home the three 
goats, the three horses, and the three donkeys. 

The milk that the cows gave that night ran down 
into a valley, where it made a lake three miles long, 
and three miles wide, and three miles deep. 

^^Did you see nothing in the pasture to-day?” said 
the old gentleman. 

Nothing worse than myself,” said Billy. ^^What 
about my wages now?” 

^^You are a good herd boy,” said the old gentleman, 
‘^and I can’t get along well without you, so I will 
give you whatever you ask.” 

Next morning the old gentleman said to Billy, 
heard none of the giants roaring last night. I wonder 
what has happened to them?” 

Perhaps they are all dead,” said Billy. 

^^Well, good luck to the lad that killed them then,” 
said the old gentleman. /^Now you must mind the 


90 


JUST STOEIES 


cattle again to-day, Billy, while I go to see the fight.’’ 

‘‘What fight?” said Billy. 

“The king’s daughter is going to be devoured by a 
fiery dragon, if somebody doesn’t kill it,” said the old 
gentleman. “The greatest fighter in the kingdom has 
been practicing for three months to get ready for the 
fight. If he can kill the dragon the king will give him 
the princess for his wife.” 

Billy drove the three goats, the three cows, and the 
three horses, and the three donkeys to pasture. Wliile 
they were feeding he watched the people go by. Never 
had he seen the like of it. They went in coaches and 
carriages, on horses and donkeys and oxen, and riding 
and running and walking. 

“Why don’t you come to see the fight, my boy?” 
said a man who passed by. 

“Would they let me in?” said Billy. 

“Of course they would,” said the man. “Everybody 
is to have a seat.” 

When they were all gone, Billy put on the old 
gentleman’s best suit and rode off to see the fight on 
the best horse in the stable. 

At the king’s palace, Billy saw the king’s daughter 
with the whole court sitting around her on a high 
platform. Down below the great warrior, who was to 
fight the dragon, was walking up and down with three 
men to carry his sword. 


BILLY BEG AND HIS BULL 


91 


But when the fiery dragon came up roaring and 
spitting fire from every one of his twelve heads, the 
great warrior ran away and hid himself in a well, up 
to his mouth in water. 

Then the princess began to weep and say, ^^Will 
nobody fight the dragon and save my lifel^’ 

Nobody stirred until Billy put his hide belt around 
his waist, waved his stick three times around his head, 
and after a terrible fight, killed the dragon. 

Everybody ran to look at the dead dragon. While 
they were looking, Billy jumped upon his horse and 
was rimning away. Nobody noticed him but the 
princess. She caught his foot and tried to hold him, 
but he slipped away from her leaving his shoe in her 
hand. 

Billy had changed his clothes and brought in all the 
cattle by the time the old gentleman got home. The 
old gentleman began at once to tell him about the great 
fight, how the warrior had hidden in the well, and 
how a handsome young man had come down out of the 
clouds on a black horse, killed the dragon, and flown 
up into the sky again. ^^WasnT it wonderful?’’ said 
the old gentleman. 

^^Oh, very wonderful,” said Billy. 

After that it was given out that all the young men 
in the kingdom should come to the king’s palace to 
try on the shoe. When the day came Billy was in the 


92 


JUST STORIES 


pasture as usual with the three cows, the three horses, 
the three goats, and the three donkeys. 

Everybody called to him, ^^ArenT you going to try 
on the shoeU’ 

^^They wouldn’t let the like of me try it on,” said 
Billy. 

When the people had all passed by, there came a 
ragged man like a scarecrow, his clothes were so old. 
Billy stopped him and said, ^^How much boot will you 
take and trade clothes with me?” 

^^No jokes about my ragged clothes, or you may feel 
the weight of my stick,” said the ragged man. 

But Billy let him know that he was in earnest. So 
they traded clothes and Billy gave the ragged man boot. 

Billy started off to the palace with the ragged clothes 
on his back and a stick in his hand. When he got there 
everybody was crowding and pushing to get a chance 
to try the shoe on. But it fitted nobody. 

Then Billy said, ^^Let me try it.” All the people 
laughed and shoved him back, because he was so 
ragged. But the princess told them to let him try on 
the shoe. Very soon they all quit laughing, for the 
shoe fitted Billy exactly. 

So Billy married the princess and the wedding lasted 
nine days, and nine hours, and nine minutes, and nine 
seconds, and they lived happy for ever after. 

Adapted from Seumas McManus 



Benjy in Beastland 

B ENJY was a naughty boy. It is sad to say but 
it is the truth. He hated bathtubs and soap and 
water. He liked to lie in bed late and he never took 
the time to wash himself clean. 

Benjy was the only boy in the family, but he had 
two little sisters. They were younger than he was 
and Benjy often showed how much he disliked to play 
with them. 

One of the little girls said one day, Benjy does 
not like us because we are only girls, so we have taken 
Yox for our brother.’’ Yox was a big black dog with 
snow-white teeth and beautiful brown eyes. 

Benjy was unkind to all animals. He would annoy 
them or hurt them or even kill them. 

Near Benjy ’s home there was an old willow-tree. 
The branches stretched out like long arms till they 
almost touched the water. 

Here Benjy often drowned the neighbors’ cats. Nox 
used to swim in and bring out what Benjy had thrown 
into the water. So Benjy was sometimes found out 
and punished. This made him dislike Nox very much. 

There was another dog in the family called Mr. 
Rough. His eyes had been almost scratched out by 

94 


BENJY IN BEASTLAND 


95 


cats. His poor little body showed the marks of many 
beatings. He had a hoarse voice, which sounded as if 
he had a bad cold. 

If Benjy liked any animal in the world it was Mr. 
Rough, but he was often very unkind to the poor 
little dog. 

One day Benjy felt very naughty. He went out and 
found poor little Mr. Rough and kicked him. So Mr. 
Rough ran away and Benjy could not find him. But 
he found another boy as naughty as himself stoning a 
little dog. 

Benjy helped him, and soon a stone struck the poor 
little dog and killed him. The two boys threw the 
little dog into the river and ran home. 

Benjy went to bed early, but he could not sleep. 
He kept thinking of the little dog and wishing he had 
not thrown him into the river. 

He did not care about the dog, but he was afraid 
Nox would bring him out. Then Benjy would be 
punished. 

At last Benjy got up and went softly out to the 
willow tree. He looked up through the branches at 
the moon. It looked so close that he thought he could 
touch it from the top of the tree. 

While he was looking, he thought of a book he had 
read. The book said that animals go to the moon when 
they leave the earth. 


96 


JUST STOEIES 


wonder if the dog I killed last night is np there U’ 
thought Benjy. 

J ust then the Man in the Moon looked down and said, 
^tThis is beastland. WonT you come and see if the 
dog is here? Can you climb ?^^ 

guess I can,’^ said Benjy, and he climbed to the 
top of the tree. All he could see was a shining white 
light. 

^^Walk right in,’’ said the Man in the Moon. Don’t 
be afraid.” So Benjy stepped into the moon and found 
himself in beastland. It was a beautiful place. There 
were more beasts than in any show. They were very 
polite to each other and Benjy felt quite at home. 

A good old spider wanted to show him how to make 
a web, so she said to Benjy, ^^When you are ready, 
look around and find a place to tie your first thread. 
You have a ball of thread inside of you, of course.” 

A ‘I can’t say that I have,” said Benjy, ^^but I have 
some strings in my pocket.” 

^^Oh well,” said the spider, ‘Hhat is all right. It 
is just the same whether it is in your pocket or inside 
of you.” 

Just then a little bird fiew in and whispered to an 
animal. That animal whispered to another. 

In a few minutes they all knew what kind of boy 
Benjy was. They all called him Boy and that is as 
bad in beastland as beast is to us. 


BENJY IN BEASTLAND 


97 


Benjy was taken before the lion, who is the king of 
beasts. The beasts sat in a circle 
with Benjy in the middle. 

^^Now what does this boy do that 
is wrong?’’ said the lion. 

^^He stones and drowns dogs and 
cats,” shouted all the beasts. 

^^What have you to say for your- 
self?” said the lion to Benjy. 

^^Mr. Rough kills the cats,” said 
Benjy, because he was very much 
frightened. 



‘WHAT HAVE YOU TO SAT FOR YOURSELF?’ SAID THE LION” 


98 JUST STOIilES 

‘^Very well, we will send for Mr. Rough, said the 
lion. 

In a little while Mr. Rough came into the circle. 

^^Mr. Rough, said the lion, ^‘Benjy says that you 
killed the cats.’’ ^^Well,” said Mr. Rough, looking 
very angry, ^^Ain I to blame bow-wow! Wlio taught 
me to do it? It was that boy, bow-wow!” Then IMr. 
Rough said that Benjy had made him kill cats so often 
that he had learned to like it. 

All the beasts were very angry when they heard 
this. They said Benjy must be punished. 

The lion walked around Benjy several times roaring 
as loud as he could. Then he said, Gentle beasts, 
Benjy must be punished, but we will not kill him. We 
will tie a tin can to him and drive him out of 
beastland.” 

The tin can was tied on Benjy at once, and the lion 
gave a great roar for the animals to begin. 

Benjy was driven out of beastland with Mr. Rough 
at his heels. When he came to the edge of the moon 
he jumped off and Mr. Rough jumped after him. 

Down, down they fell, Benjy screaming all the time 
and Mr. Rough barking. 

After a long time, Benjy saw the river below him. 
In another minute he was sinking. 

He came to the top and sank again. Then he came 
up again, and Nox was on the bank. 


BENJY IN BEASTLAND 


99 


He thought how often he had hurt Nox and then he 
could think no more. Nox jumped into the water^ 
caught Benjy and swam out with him. He laid him 
under a tree and ran to the house. 

Benjy had been missed. All the family were looking 
for him. They followed Nox and Benjy was carried 
home. 

Benjy was ill a long time. When he was a little 
better, he told of his visit to beastland. 

His mother told him it was a dream he had while he 
was ill, but Benjy thought he had really been to beast- 
Jand, and it made a much better boy of him. 

Another thing happened while he was getting well 
that made a kind boy of him for life. 

Mr. Rough could not get in to see Benjy while he 
was sick. This made the little dog unhappy. He could 
not eat and he got thinner and weaker every day. 

One day Mr. Rough found the door open and he 
crept softly into Benjy ^s room. 

Benjy heard him and sat up. Mr. Rough jumped on 
tlie bed and Benjy held out his arms. 

Poor little Mr. Rough sprang in Benjy ’s arms and 
fell dead. Benjy felt so sorry that it kept him from 
getting well for a long time. 

All that long time he lay in bed and thought how 
Mr. Rough had loved him, and he shed many tears. 
This did him good. He was never again cruel to animals. 


The Naughty Little Mouse 



T here was once a 
naughty little mouse. 
Oil, she was very bad. 
She didn’t believe any- 
thing her mother told 
her. 

She didn’t believe there was 
a cat. She didn’t even believe 
there was a Santa Claus. 

Her mother would say to 
her, ^^My dear child, do not play in 
the moonlight in the middle of the 
night. The cat will get you.” 

don’t believe there is such a thing as a cat,” the 
naughty little mouse would say. 

One night the little mouse woke up. The moon 
was bright as day. Her mother was sound asleep. 

will get up and dance in the moonlight,” said 
she. So she crept out of bed very softly, but her little 
brothers heard her. 

^^We will tell mother,” they all said. Tell-tale, tell- 
tale,” said the naughty little mouse. 

^^We aren’t tell-tales,” said the brothers. ^^Then 
100 


THE NAUGHTY LITTLE MOUSE 101 

donT tell mother/’ said the little mouse. So they 
didn’t. 

The little mouse had a good time all by herself. She 
hippety-hopped, and danced, and walked on her hind 
toes, and turned somersaults in the moonlight. 

Her little brothers whispered, ^‘The cat will get you 
if you don’t watch out.” But she didn’t mind. 

All at once a great creature with eyes like balls of 
fire came springing through the air. 

The little mouse screamed, Mammy,” and ran, but 
she did not get away in time. The cat bit off her 
beautiful, long tail. 

This made her better for a little while. But she 
was soon as naughty as ever. She even played in the 
moonlight again. But she watched for the cat and 
always got away. 

On Christmas eve the mother asked what the children 
wanted Santa Claus to bring. 

They all wanted cheese. The mother said, ^^You arc 
very wise little mice. Nothing can be better than 
cheese. You must go to bed very early. If Santa Claus 
finds you awake he may not come in.” 

When the others were asleep the naughty little mouse 
said right out loud, don’t believe there is any Santa 
Claus. I am going out to dance in the moonlight.” 

The cat was hiding near by. Wlien she heard what 
the noisy little mouse said she laughed till she shook. 


102 


JUST STORIES 


I will get that naughty little mouse/ ^ said she. 

A little girl who lived there had left her muff on 
the table. The cat crept through the muff so that 
she could walk with it on. Then she put a little fur 
mitten on her head for a cap. 

The naughty little mouse stood on her head and then 



turned a dozen somersaults. When she came down 
there sat the cat. 

^^Oh my, who are youU’ said the naughty little 
mouse. 

am Santa Claus/’ said the cat in a deep voice. 

The little mouse kept still and stared and stared. 

In a minute the cat made a spring and caught her, 
and that was the end of the poor, naughty little mouse 
who didn’t believe in Santa Claus. 


■ Adapted from Eugene Field 


The Workman King 

A BOUT two hundred years ago there was born in 
Russia, a prince called Peter. 

The Russians of that time were a wild, half-savage 
people. They considered their own manners and cus- 
toms the best in the world. Therefore they despised 
people of other countries and did not wish to know 
anything about them. 

Very few foreigners ever came into Russia. Very 
few Russians ever traveled in other countries. A 
Russian who wished to leave his own country, even 
for a visit, could not do so without permission from 
the Czar. 

The Prince Peter grew up as rough and savage as 
his people. He was ignorant of many things that were 
known by the poorest workingmen in other countries. 
But he was so intelligent and eager to learn that he 
soon learned everything that could be studied in his 
own country. 

When he was a small boy, he was sent to a country 
place to live. There he had fifty boys of his own age 
for playmates, and was allowed to do just as he pleased. 

He formed the boys into a little army and they 
learned to drill like regular soldiers. He himself began 

103 


104 


JUST STOEIES 


at the beginning with the boys. They built a fort 
which was not a play fort, but such a fort as was 
used at that time. 

Peter did not always command. He took his turn 
with the others and worked as hard as they did. 

A workshop had been given to the boys. In building 
the fort, Peter used a wheelbarrow which he had made 
with his own hands. He learned to drum as the 
drummer boys in the army did, so that he understood 
all the signals and could give them. 

When Peter was but ten years old, he became Czar 
of Russia. His sister Sophia was appointed to take 
his place until he grew old enough. 

So the prince went on for some time, drilling his 
boy soldiers and building forts, caring very little for 
being Czar. But when he was seventeen years old, he 
took the power into his own hands and became real 
ruler of Russia. 

One day when he was walking with one of his officers, 
he saw an old building which was locked. His curiosity 
led him to have it opened. On looking through the 
building, he found a little sailboat. This boat had been 
sent to one of the czars by the king of another country. 

Peter had never seen such a boat. He was curious 
to see it in the water. After some time he found a 
German who could sail the boat. He then learned to 
sail it himself. 


THE WORKMAN KING 


105 


Peter was now anxious to have more boats built. 
So he found one or two foreigners to help him, and, 
together, they built a much larger boat. Peter himself 
worked until his hands were as hard as any working 
man’s. 

Peter now began to see that the people of other 
countries were much more civilized than the Russians. 
So he set to work to make the Russians equal to other 
nations. 

His greatest trouble was his own ignorance. This 
he determined to overcome by bringing foreigners into 
Russia and by traveling. 

For his chief officer, he appointed a man named 
Le Fort, who was a native of Switzerland. This man 
was well educated and had traveled in most of the 
countries of Europe. 

By his advice Peter changed the laws so as to have 
more commerce with other nations. 

By seeing the products of other countries, the Rus- 
sians learned that the work done in those countries 
was better than that done in Russia. Therefore they 
were more willing to be taught. 

Peter brought in all kinds of foreign workmen. He 
took particular pains to bring in masons, because the 
Russians could build only rough log houses. He him- 
self had a strong palace built, to show the people 
something better than they had ever seen. 


106 


JUST STOEIES 


As soon as the workmen had finished the palace, 
they were employed by the noblemen. In this way 
the Russians gradually became used to living in a 
better way. 

By the advice of Le Fort, Peter changed the uniform 
and drill of his soldiers. Up to this time they had 
been dressed very clumsily. LeFort had uniforms such 
as were worn in other parts of Europe, made for a 
regiment. Peter was so much pleased that he wore 
one of the uniforms himself and had his whole army 
dressed in them. 

Peter went into the army as a soldier of the lowest 
rank, and worked his way up just as any other man 
might. He obeyed the orders of the officers just as 
if he had not been Czar. 

Many young noblemen were sent out to study in 
the best schools of Europe, and to learn to do all kinds 
of work. 

Peter was not satisfied with his small sailing vessels. 
He wanted warships such as were then in use in other 
countries. So he made up his mind to leave Russia 
and travel for some time. 

It was the custom at that time for kings to send 
costly presents to each other. These presents were 
carried by the highest noblemen. The noblemen took 
with them a large number of servants and horses and 
traveled in grand style. 


THE WORKMAN KING 


107 


They were received by the kings to whom they were 
sent in the same style. Rich presents were given 
in return and feasts and entertainments were made for 
them. 

Peter determined to send such a train of noblemen 
to the great kings of Europe, and to go with them 
himself in disguise. But it became known that the 
Czar of Russia was with the company. Grreat honor 
was paid to him, although he was not called Czar. 

The Russians had very crude manners of eating and 
drinking, and Peter knew nothing better than his 
people. He was very much troubled by his ignorance 
of the customs of the people who gave the feasts. 

The first time a napkin was offered to him he did 
not know what to do with it. But he learned so readily 
and so willingly that everybody was pleased with him. 

At that’ time Holland was famous for shipbuilding. 
Peter stayed a long time there. He dressed himself 
as a common sailor and walked about among the 
shipping all day long. 

Sometimes it was whispered that the strange sailor 
was the Czar of the great country of Russia. Then 
the people stopped to stare at him. This displeased 
' Peter very much and he always went away. 

At last he went to work as a ship carpenter. He 
worked all day long and received his wages just as 
] the other workmen did. 


108 


JUST STORIES 


Peter also learned enough of dentistry to take out 
teeth and enough of shoemaking to make a pair of 
slippers. 

After a time he saw an English ship that pleased 
him better than the Dutch ships. On this account he 
visited England. There a large house was given him 
by the King. 

In England Peter went about the ship yards as he 
had in Holland. He made himself acquainted with the 
best workmen. Many of them he hired to go to Russia 
with him. He also learned to sail a ship. 

All this had taken time and Peter found at last that 
he must return to his home. When he left England 
the Elng gave him his own yacht as a present. 

Peter had learned many things besides shipbuilding. 
He had taken pains to notice the dress and manner 
of living in the countries he had visited. He saw how 
much better it was than the Russian style of dress 
and living. 

In Russia the people thought it a sin to shave. 
The men wore long robes down to their feet. Both 
the men and women wore sleeves so long that they 
hung down a foot over their hands. 

Peter ordered the men to shave and to wear short 
coats and sleeves. This they did not want to do. In 
order to make them do as he wished, a tax was put 
on beards and long robes. 


THE WORKMAN KING 


109 


Men who could not pay the tax were stopped in the 
streets. They were made to kneel down and their 
robes were cut off close to the ground. Their beards 
were cut off by barbers paid by the Czar. 

In Russia the women had always been shut up in 
the houses. When they went out, they drove in close 
carriages. It was thought wrong for them to be seen 
in public. 

Peter made feasts to which he invited both men 
and women as he had seen in other countries. He 
himself dressed as he had seen men dressed when he 
was traveling, and shaved his face. 

Russia had no seaports. None had been needed 
because there were no ships. But now Peter built a 
fleet and a seaport was needed. 

Russia had a little seacoast in the north where it 
was very cold. The place where St. Petersburg now 
stands was a swamp. But Peter determined to build 
a seaport there. 

He himself went to the place and called workmen 
from every part of Russia. They drove great logs 
endwise into the swamp, and built the houses upon 
them. Every wagon that came to the city was com- 
pelled to bring a load of earth. Soon a large city was 
built and made the capital. 

So Peter went on all his life teaching his people 
better ways of living and working. He himself worked 


JUST STORIES 


1 10 

with liis own hands like a laborer. Through his efforts, 
the Russians learned to respect the people of other 
countries, and to live in a more civilized way. 

When Peter became Czar his people lived in wretched 
huts. They were savage and ignorant. They did not 
even know that there were people much better off than 
they were. They did not want to trade with other 
countries. They were even forbidden by law to do so. 
They looked with contempt on any man who was not 
a Russian. The Russian army was poorly drilled and 
could be easily overcome. There were neither ships 
nor seaports. 

When Peter died the Russians had learned that other 
nations were much more civilized, and many wanted 
to be like those nations. Schools and workshops had 
been established. The Russian army was well armed 
and drilled. There was a large fleet. Russia had 
become a powerful nation. 

In the end Peter came to his death by helping to 
rescue some shipwrecked sailors. It is said that he 
himself saved the lives of twenty men. From this he 
became ill and soon died. 

Because of all that Peter did for his nation he is 
called Peter the Great. Some kings and emperors have 
had this title because they were great warriors. Peter 
was given the title, not because he conquered other 
nations, but because he did so much for his own nation. 


S Three Little Kittens 


rpHREE little Kittens lost their mittens, 
And they began to cry, 

^^Oh, mother dear. 

We very much fear 
That we have lost our mittens. 

^^Lost your mittens! 

You naughty Kittens! 

Then you shall have no pie.’’ 

^Atee-ow, mee-ow, mee-ow.” 

^^Ko, you shall have no pie.” 

^‘Mee-ow, mee-ow, mee-ow.” 

The three- little Kittens found their mittens. 
And they began to cry, 

^^Oh, mother dear, 

See here, see here. 

See! we have found our mittens.” 


Ill 


JUST STORIES 


^^Put on your mittens, 

You silly Kittens, 

And you may have some pie/^ 
^‘Purr-r, purr-r, purr-r. 

Oh, let us have the pie! 

Purr-r, purr-r, purr-r/^ 



The three little Kittens put on their mittens 
And soon ate up the pie; 

^‘Oh, mother dear. 

We greatly fear 

That we have soiled our mittens/’ 

‘‘Soiled your mittens! 

You naughty Kittens!” 

Then they began to sigh, 

“Mee-ow, mee-ow, mee-ow.” 


THREE LITTLE KITTENS 


113 


The three little Kittens washed their mittens, 
And hung them out to dry; 

^^Oh, mother dear, 

Do you not hear. 

That we have washed our mittens'?’’ 

Washed your mittens! 

Oh you’re good Kittens, 

But I smell a rat close by!” 

^^Hush, hush! mee-ow, mee-ow! 

We smell a rat close by! 

Mee-ow, mee-ow, mee-ow!” 


^ •i> •i> 


Pussycat and her little kittens 
Sat in the corner knitting mittens. 



^NCE upon a time there was a very polite 
family in China. 

First there was the grandfather. He had 
ten sons. Then each son had ten little sons. 
All these men and boys were polite. Each 
of the boys had a dog. All the dogs were 

polite too. 

At the table not a dog would begin to eat until his 
master had begun. 'Not a boy would 
begin until his father had begun. Not a 
man would begin until the grandfather 
had begun. So the polite grandfather 
began to eat first. Then the ten polite 
fathers began to eat. And at last the 
hundred polite boys began to eat. And 
then the hundred polite dogs began to eat. So then 
they were all eating. 



114 


Chinese Folk Story 


Pandora 


T ONGr, long ago, when the earth was young, all the 
people were children. Xo grown man or woman 
had ever been seen. 

The children needed no fathers and mothers to take 
care of them. No one had ever been ill. Clothes 
never wore out. It was summer all the time. Nice 
things to eat grew on trees where the children could 
get them. 

The children never quarreled. They were always 
happy. No child had ever been known to go into a 
corner to sulk. 

A boy called Epimetheus lived in a pretty little house 
all alone. One day a young man brought a heavy box 
to the door. 

Epimetheus had never seen a young man and he 
was very much surprised. So when the young man 
said he wanted to leave the box there, Epimetheus 
could think of nothing to say. 

The young man smiled at him and said, ^^You must 
never open the box or let any one else open it.’^ Then 
he turned and went lightly away. 

Epimetheus thought at first that he had wings on 
his feet. But when he rubbed his eyes and looked 


115 


116 JUST STORIES 

again, the young man was so far away that he could 
not tell for sure. 

Afterward he thought he had not seen right, for 
who ever heard of any one with wings on his feeU? 

The box had beautiful faces carved upon it. It 
was tied with a string of twisted gold. Epimetheus 
looked at the faces and at the knot; but he did not 
touch the box. Then he heard his playmates calling 
for him, and he ran away to play and forgot the box. 

When he came back in the evening there was a 
strange little girl sitting on the steps. She said she 
had been brought from a long way off to be his play- 
mate. Strange to say, she could not remember at all 
where she came from. She only remembered that a 
tall boy wuth wings on his feet brought her. 

‘^That must have been the same boy that brought 
the box,’’ said Epimetheus. Then he show^ed the box 
to Pandora. She wanted to open it at once, but 
Epimetheus told her what the young man had said. 
Pandora thought the box must be for her. She felt 
sure there was something pretty in it for her. 

Epimetheus begged the little girl to go out and play 
and think no more about it. She ran away wdth him, 
but she could not quite forget the box. 

Every day when the two children came in to rest. 
Pandora looked at the box and wished she could open 
it. After a while she did not want to go out at all. 


PANDORA 117 

The first thing in the morning, she began to guess 
what was in the box. 

One day Epimetheus went out alone to find the other 
children. Pandora looked at the box first. Then she 
touched the carved faces. Then she lifted one corner. 
Down went the heavy box out of her hands almost 
on her toes. 

She thought she heard a voice in the box; so she 
put her ear close to the lid. Sure enough! Many 
little voices were calling, Please let me out. Pandora.’’ 

Pandora touched the golden string very lightly. 
She didn’t know whether to pull it or not. But it 
needed no pulling. Just the moment her fingers 
touched the knot, it came untied. Then the little 
voices called louder than before. 

Pandora thought she would lift the lid a little and 
shut it very quickly. But the moment there was the 
least crack, out came a swarm of ugly little creatures. 
They had wings like a bat and very long stings. These 
little creatures were troubles of all kinds. 

Pandora dropped the lid with a bang. Just at that 
moment one of the troubles stung her on the forehead. 
At this she screamed so loud that Epimetheus ran in. 
Just as he opened the door, a trouble stung him and 
he began to scream. 

Out flew the troubles over that happy country 
stinging every child in it. All the children set up a 


118 


JUST STORIES 


loud screaming. For a long time nothing could be 
heard but crying and moaning. 

Pandora lay on the floor with her head against the 
box, wishing she had never opened it. After a while 
she noticed a sweet little voice calling: ^^Dear 
Pandora, let me out and I will take away your pain.’^ 
will never open the box again,’’ said Pandora. 

But the sweet little voice kept singing: ^^Let me 
out, let me out, dear Pandora. I am not a trouble, I 
am Hope, and I can cure all the children of their 
pain.” 

So Pandora opened the box again. Out came a 
smiling little creature with rainbow wings. It kissed 
Pandora on the forehead and the pain was gone. 

For a minute it went dancing about like a sunbeam. 
Then it said good-by and flew out to kiss the other 
children. 

It was always too busy to stay long at a time with 
any child. But if a child were ill or unhappy, Hope 
came flying in to comfort him. 


An Indian Legend 

T ONG and long ago, when the earth was young, 
there were no trees. The ground was green with 
grass; bright flowers lifted up their faces to the sun. 

Gitchee Manito looked down and saw the beautiful 
earth. The wind “blew softly. The water sparkled in 
the sunlight. Flowers were blooming everywhere. 

So beautiful was the earth that Gitchee Manito 
came down from the sky and walked to and fro on it. 

Wherever he went, trees sprang up from his foot- 
prints. Fine and tall they grew, their leaves rustling 
and whispering in the air and light. 

All summer the leaves were green, but when the frost 
came they turned brown and yellow and crimson. 

Then Gitchee Manito was sorry for the leaves for 
he knew they would soon be withered and dead; so 
he came once more and gave each leaf a pair of wings 
and changed it into a bird. Brown leaves were turned 
to sparrows and snowbirds and wrens. Yellow leaves 
became goldfinches and orioles. Crimson leaves were 
made tanagers and red-birds and robins. 

This is why the birds love the trees and make their 
nests in them. And this is why the trees love the 
birds and shelter them from stgrms and snow. 


119 


The Goose that Laid the Golden Egg 

O NCE upon a time 
a poor man lived 
all alone in a little 
cottage. He had no 
wife and no children. 
He did not even have 
a cat. 

One day he was sit- 
ting in his house by 
the fire. He heard 
something coming pit 
pat, pit pat, in at the 
door. 

He turned around 
and there was a little gray goose. She had on a little 
cap and a little apron. 

The man gave her a piece of bread and patted her 
back. The little goose liked this. So she stayed. 

One day she made a nice nest in a little box and 
laid an egg. The man looked at the egg and saw that 
it was gold. So he locked it up in a drawer. 

The little gray goose laid a golden egg every day. 
The man put them all away. Soon he was rich. 

120 



THE GOOSE THAT LAID THE GOLDEN EGG 121 


Every day he opened the drawer and counted the 
eggs. By and by he grew tired of getting only one 
egg a day. 

He thought he would kill the goose and get all the 
gold at once, but when he cut the goose open, he found 
no gold. So he was punished for killing the goose that 
had been so good to him. 



The Magpie’s Nest 

O NCE upon a time no bird but a magpie knew how 
to build a nest. So all the birds came to her to 
learn how to build nests. 

All the birds stood around the magpie watching her. 
First she made a cake of mud. 

see how it is done/’ said the robin, and then away 
she flew. So that is why all robins make nests of mud. 

Then the magpie put some twigs around the mud. 
‘^Now I know how to make a nest/’ said the black- 
bird. That is how blackbirds make nests to this day. 

Next the magpie put mud over the twigs. ^^That is 
how it is done, is it'?” said the owl. So she flew away 
and made her nest that same way. 

After that the magpie put some more twigs on the 
outside of the nest. 

^^That is the very thing,” said the sparrow. Away 
she flew. To this day she cannot make a good nest. 

Then the magpie lined the nest with feathers. This 
made it very comfortable. 

^^That suits me,” said the starling. So starlings have 
very comfortable nests. 

So it went on. Each bird learned a little, but no bird 
stayed until the end. 


122 


DAISIES 


123 


When the nest was finished, it was the very best kind 
of nest. It was thick and warm. It had a roof to keep 
out the cold and rain. It had a very soft lining. 

But all the birds went away before it was done. This 
made the magpie angry and she would never show them 
again. So all the birds have different nests. 

+ 4 - + 

DAISIES 

A t evening when I go to bed 
I see the stars shine overhead; 

They are the little daisies white 
That dot the meadow of the night. 

And often while I'm dreaming so, 

Across the sky the Moon will go; 

It is a lady sweet and fair. 

Who comes to gather daisies there. 

For, when at morning I arise. 

There's not a star left in the skies. 

She 's picked them all and dropped them down 
Into the meadows of the town. 

Frank Dempster Sherman 


The Little Red Hen 


O NCE there was 
a little red hen. 
She lived in a little 
house in the woods. 
She had a little bed 
and a little stove and 
a little table with 
little dishes. 

A fox lived over 

the hill with his 

mother. He wanted 
get the little red hen for 
dinner. But the little red 
hen never went far from her 
door. She could always run in if 
she saw a fox coming. 

One day she went out to get wood 
to make a fire and she forgot to lock the door. The 
fox was watching behind a stone. He kept still until 
her back was toward the house. Then he went softly 
in and crept back into the corner under the bed and 
kept very still. He made believe he was asleep but 
he kept one eye open. 



124 


THE LITTLE RED HEN 


.25 


The little red hen did not see the fox go into her 
house. She was too busy picking up wood to make 
her tea. 

When the little red hen filled her apron full of 
sticks she came in and locked the door. She hung 
the key on a nail and went to the stove and out 
jumped the fox. The little red hen flew up on a shelf. 

Then the fox ran round and round after his tail. 

The little red hen shut her eyes and tried very 
hard not to look. But the fox made so much noise 
that her eyes flew open. She looked down for just 
one second. There was the fox whirling like a big 
top. It made her so dizzy that she came tumbling 
down. The fox grabbed her and put her into his bag. 
Then he opened the door and ran off through the woods 
as fast as he could go. After a while he was so tired 
that he had to lie down to rest. Before he knew it 
he was fast asleep. 

The little red hen had her scissors in her pocket. 
She listened a long time to be sure the fox was asleep. 
Then she took out her scissors and cut a hole in the 
bag. She crept out softly holding her breath. There 
lay the fox sound asleep. 

The little red hen wanted to run away without 
waiting a minute. But she was afraid the fox might 
wake up and see that she was gone. So she waited 
to put a big stone into the bag. Then she took her 


126 


JUST STORIES 


thimble and needle and thread, which she always 
carried in her pocket, and sewed up the bag so the 
stone could not fall out. Then she ran home as fast 
as her feet could take her. 

By and by the fox woke up. He lay still awhile. 
Then he rubbed his eyes and stretched himself. Then 
he jmnped up. 

^^Have I been asleep!’^ he said to himself. ‘H shall 
be late for dinner. My mother will think I am not 
coming.’’ 

He did not wait to look at the bag. He grabbed it 
up and threw it over his back. Oft he went faster 
than before to make up for lost time. 

The stone hurt the fox’s back when he ran so fast, 
but he could not stop for that. He said to himself: 

^^How heavy the little red hen is. She will make 
a good dinner. My mother will be glad. We shall 
both have all we can eat all day.” 

Soon he came to his little green house in the 
hillside. His mother was standing in the door watching 
for him. He had been gone a long, long time, and 
she w^as very hungry. 

Have you the little red hen this time, my son?” 
she said. 

^Wes, mother, I have,” said the fox. ‘^She is so 
fat and heavy that it hurt my back to carry her. 
But I don’t care. She will make the best dinner we 


THE LITTLE RED HEN 


127 



ever had. Have you the kettle 
^‘Yes, my son/^ said the mother, 
bring her in and we will cook 
her at once,’’ 

The fire was hot 
and the water in 
the kettle was boil- 
ing hard. 

^^Lift up the lid 
and I will put her 
in,” said the fox. 

So the mother 
lifted the lid and 
the fox held the 
bag over the kettle. 

Splash went the 
heavy stone into the hot water and burned them both 
in the face. 

But the little red hen was safe at home in her little 
house. 


The Wind Flower 

A donis was a beautiful boy. His eyes were blue 
as the sky. His hair was like sunshine. 

He could run so swiftly and so lightly that he 
almost seemed to fly. 

The only thing he cared for in all the world was 
hunting. In the morning before the dew was dried, he 
was up and away on the hills. 

Aphrodite herself was charmed with his beauty and 
grace. She begged him to stay with her. But he would 
not leave his hunting. 

One day a flerce wild boar killed him. Aphrodite 
came and found him lying on the ground white and 
beautiful, like a flower. So she changed him into a 
flower. 

The flower is white with a slender, graceful stem. 
It lives only a short time. People call it anemone or 
wind flower. The anemone grows at the edge of the 
forest in the shade of the trees. It is like Adonis. It 
loves the greenwood. 


128 



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